Speak Up for Housing
Housing costs are a problem in Perth and Huron. Here’s what you can do:
Our Stories of the Housing Crisis
Our Stories of the Housing Crisis shows how over 700 local households, mostly working families with children, have been affected by rising housing costs. Homeowners suffered from rate hikes, while renters have been trapped by the unaffordable market. Households cut spending on both extras and essentials and tried to earn more, but ultimately many have fallen behind. These Perth-Huron households are ready for this unfair crisis to end, supporting urgent action, and particularly new affordable housing. Featuring dozens of quotes from real Perth-Huron families, Our Stories of the Housing Crisis captures the local experience of this difficult time and urges us to change things.
Housing Unaffordability Fact-Sheet
Our calculations confirm that many Perth-Huron households can’t afford housing.
Workers Need Housing
Emily — Perth County
Victoria — Huron County
Workers Need Housing videos sponsored by Four County Labour Market Planning Board.
Share Local Stories
Hover over or tap the image to view the story.
Share these stories on social media or put up a poster in your community: find the files here.
“When my mortgage comes due, my income will be at its lowest point in a long time. My children could contribute, but how will they ever save for their own future?” – Christine from North Perth
“I moved twice to be closer to my children. Each time, my rent increased. I can’t work myself to death anymore.” – Jeffery from North Perth
“The plans we made years ago for when the kids moved out have gone into the trash.” – Sherri from Stratford
“I have a master’s degree and work full-time in a decent-paying job, but it still isn’t enough for me to move out of my parents’ home.” – Matt from Bluewater
“My monthly disability payments don’t go up, but the cost of living still does.” – Jason from Stratford
“I’m 45, making close to $30 an hour, and I can’t afford my own apartment.” – Mike from Stratford
“I got stuck in a terrible apartment because it was the only one I could afford. I live in constant fear of having to move again and not finding something safe and affordable.” – Amandeep from Stratford
“I want to move out with my kids, away from my abusive partner, but the housing cost and everything else is way too much to afford. So we just put up with it.” – Alex from South Huron
“Rent is 50% of our family budget. Me and my family plan to leave Canada.” – Dmitry from South Huron
“We love the town we live in. We do not wish to move away. Unfortunately, we might have to just to find a home we can afford.” – Sam and Sarah from Goderich
“I’m raising my daughter by myself in a one-bedroom apartment, trying to work any overtime I can. Paying off debt is impossible, saving is impossible.” – Aidah from St. Marys
“My rent has doubled. I eat less, don’t spend on any extras, and my kids hear ‘no’ to most of their requests. I am extremely stressed by this situation.” – Derrick from Goderich
“My husband passed last year. I can’t afford my rent. That means less groceries and less heat.” – Mary from Stratford
“My rent’s going up. I can’t buy a home. I’ll be a senior soon, but I can’t afford to retire.” – Basil from Central Huron
“I don’t make enough money to pay rent, so I have to live in my car right now.” – Steph from Stratford
“We had to sell our home and buy a much less expensive one just to survive. We sold everything, and we are still just getting by.” – Gemi from Central Huron
These comments come from our “Cost of Housing” survey conducted in January 2024.
To preserve the anonymity of survey participants, we have changed identifying details, such as names, and used stock photos.
Petition: Speak Up for Community Housing
Petition Responses
On October 21, 2025, we delivered our Speak Up for Community Housing petition (see below) with 209 responses to Federal Housing Minister Gregor Robertson, Ontario Housing Minister Rob Flack, and our local MPs and MPPs. Here are the responses received so far:
Matthew Rae, MPP | Perth-Wellington John Nater, MP | Perth-Wellington
Sign the Petition
Support Local Initiatives
Many have proposed different solutions to the housing crisis. These include building thousands of new rent-geared-to-income housing units, empowering non-profits to create and maintain affordable housing, and expanding overall housing supply.
Organizations in our community are already working to improve housing affordability. However, they can’t do it without support. Here are some initiatives and how to support them.
Regional
United Housing — Support New Non-Profit Housing in Perth and Huron
United Housing is Perth-Huron’s first non-profit housing organization dedicated to creating and sustaining mixed rental units.
Learn more about United Housing.
Sign-up for United Housing email updates.
Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus / Ontario Big City Mayors — Solve the Crisis
The Solve the Crisis campaign asks the Government of Ontario to use its resources to solve the homelessness crisis, which cities have been facing without adequate support.
County of Huron
County of Huron — How We Grow
The How We Grow videos highlight the many types of housing being built to meet housing needs in Huron County.
County of Huron — New Community Housing
County of Huron is developing new affordable housing projects. This will be a major achievement for the community.
City of Stratford
City of Stratford — Brittania Street Housing
City of Stratford has developed new affordable housing owned and operated by the city, a major achievement for the community.
Tell leaders you support more projects like this.
Invest Stratford – Let's be Neighbours
The Let’s be neighbours campaign provides concrete ways Stratford residents can support housing affordability.
City of Stratford – Grand Trunk Renewal
The redevelopment of the Grant Trunk site in downtown Stratford is a major opportunity to invest in housing affordability.
Support housing as a priority in the Grant Trunk Renewal.
City of Stratford – Official Plan Review
The update of Stratford’s Official Plan is a major opportunity to prioritize housing affordability.
Support housing as a priority in the Stratford Official Plan.
County of Perth
Perth County – Official Plan Review
The update of Perth County’s Official Plan is a major opportunity to prioritize housing affordability.
Support housing as a priority in the Perth County Official Plan.
Contact Your Representatives
Our political leaders can make choices that influence housing affordability. You can let them know you want housing to be affordable and that you support them taking action to accomplish that.
You can speak up for housing!
Roles of Different Governments
It’s also important to recognize that different governments do different things. Explore those differences below.
Government Responsibility Cheat Sheet
Federal – Government of Canada
- Funding for affordable housing
- Home buying incentives
- Housing benefits
Historically, the Government of Canada has been the largest funder of community housing in Canada, funding the construction of significant numbers of community housing units, especially in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Almost all of the rent-geared-to-income units in Perth and Huron date from this period.
In the 1990s, the federal government mostly stopped funding new community housing. Significant federal investment in community housing began again in 2017 through the National Housing Strategy.
The federal government raises funding for housing initiatives through taxes and deficit spending. Federal funding and incentives are generally provided through the Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation (CMHC). Funding is typically provided to provinces, although CMHC also provides funding directly to municipalities and to non-profit housing providers.
CMHC also sets many policies which affect housing markets, including rules about down payments and mortgages.
If you want to support the Government of Canada in making housing more affordable, you can reach out to your local MP.
Provincial – Government of Ontario
- Funding for affordable housing
- Homelessness programs
- Housing benefits
- Landlord-tenant rules (rent controls, evictions, Landlord-Tenant Board)
- Social assistance rates (OW/ODSP)
- Supportive housing
- Zoning and planning
The Government of Ontario creates the rules, tools, and goals which municipalities use to plan for housing development and offer housing programs. This includes high-level rules on planning, heritage, municipal finance, environmental conservation, and building code.
The provincial government built and managed large numbers of community housing units particularly in the late 80s and early 90s, sometimes independently and sometimes funded by the Government of Canada.
In the 1990s, the provincial government mostly stopped funding new community housing. Responsibility for funding and managing housing programs was downloaded to municipalities in the late 90s. The Government of Ontario is still the primary funder of homelessness programs and supportive housing programs.
The provincial government raises money for housing initiatives through taxes and deficit spending. They provide loans and grants for municipalities and non-profit housing providers to develop community housing.
The province sets rates for income support programs like Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program. It also funds the Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit.
The provincial government sets the rules around rent controls, landlord-tenant disputes, and evictions.
If you want to support the Government of Ontario in making housing more affordable, you can reach out to your local MPP.
Municipal – Single-Tier, Upper-Tier, Lower-Tier
- Development approvals
- Funding for affordable housing
- Housing and homelessness program delivery
- Property taxes
- Zoning and planning
Municipalities in Ontario play a front-line role in delivering government housing programs. The province sets the “overall vision” and legal framework, and Municipal “Service Managers” develop plans and services according to local needs.
Municipalities are the main funders and operators of community housing programs. This is different from other provinces, where housing programs are centrally funded and operated by the province. It used to be that way in Ontario. That responsibility was “downloaded” to municipalities in the late 90s. The Government of Ontario is still the primary funder of homelessness programs and supportive housing programs.
Municipalities manage existing community housing built through different provincial and federal programs. In some cases, municipalities will build new community housing.
The powers of municipalities are entirely defined by the province, and they have limited abilities to raise money to build new community housing. Most of municipal revenue comes from property taxes.
Municipalities influence local housing supply through official plans, local zoning rules, and decisions on individual housing developments.
Municipalities also facilitate income support programs like Ontario Works, Ontario Disability Support Program, and the Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit, and sometimes provide their own financial assistance related to housing.
If you want to support your municipality in making housing more affordable, you can reach out to your local representatives.
Elected Leaders vs. Government Staff
It’s important to recognize the difference between elected officials and government staff. Typically, elected officials make policy decisions and staff implement those decisions. If you want something about government to change, it’s important to share that with your elected officials first and foremost.
How Do I Contact My Representatives?
I Live in Huron County
| Specific Government | What They Do | Your Representative |
|---|---|---|
| Government of Canada |
|
Ben Lobb, Member of Parliament |
| Government of Ontario |
|
Lisa Thompson, Member of Provincial Parliament |
| Municipal Government |
|
Upper Tier – County of Huron County Council Lower Tier – |
I Live in Perth County
| Specific Government | What They Do | Your Representative |
|---|---|---|
| Government of Canada |
|
John Nater, Member of Parliament |
| Government of Ontario |
|
Matthew Rae, Member of Provincial Parliament |
| Municipal Government |
|
Single Tier –
Upper Tier – Perth County County Council |