Housing affordability is a growing concern across Canada and is particularly pronounced in urban centers such as the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area. In 2021, 51% of all renter households and 33% of owner households in Richmond Hill were spending 30% or more of their income on shelter costs (Census 2021).

In alignment with the City’s 2024-2027 Strategic Plan, the Affordable Housing Strategy, the Official Plan and the approved amendments to the ongoing Official Plan Update, the City of Richmond Hill is working to remove barriers to enable more housing. The City continues to support the development of communities with a full range of housing options to meet the needs of residents of all ages, abilities and income levels.

Affordable Housing Strategy

In 2021, Richmond Hill Council approved an Affordable Housing Strategy (AHS). The AHS is a strategy for the City to work with the building and development sectors to create affordable housing in the private housing market in the community.

The strategy provides goals, targets and actions related to affordable housing. It has identified the Community Improvement Plan (CIP) for Affordable Housing and Sustainable Design, an incentive program, as one of the tools to deliver on the City’s affordable housing goals. In late 2023, Richmond Hill was awarded the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) grant, which enabled this City to implement the CIP program.

Community Improvement Plan (CIP) for Affordable Housing and Sustainable Design

The CIP, approved by Council in November 2024, establishes the City’s first financial incentives program for sustainably designed affordable rental units. The program is available to private and non-profit housing providers, offering incentives to sustainably designed rental projects over 11 units, with a minimum of five of those being affordable rental units.

The CIP offers four incentive streams:

• Per Affordable Unit Grant
• Tax Increment Equivalent Grant (TIEG)
• Competitive Capital Funding Grant
• Public Lands

These financial incentives help address the need for both upfront capital investment required for construction and ongoing operational support to ensure the long-term viability of the affordable units. 

The City will be issuing a call for applications for the Per Affordable Unit Grant and the TIEG incentives on Monday January 27, 2025. Please visit the CIP webpage for more detailed information on the available incentives, eligibility, and applicable deadlines.

Other Tools and Resources

• Handbook for Developing Affordable Housing
  This handbook helps build partnerships between for-profit and non-profit organizations active in residential development in Richmond Hill or York Region by providing affordable housing-related resources for the development industry in Richmond Hill, including funding programs and measures that help reduce the cost of housing developments. It is a tool that applicants can use to engage the City’s Building Division early in the development process to identify innovations not included in the Ontario Building Code. The handbook contains 2024 thresholds for affordable price or rent defined by the York Region. 
• Structuring Your Application – Affordable Housing Template
  This document helps developers to identify the number of qualified affordable units and provides guidelines on how to meet the affordable housing targets outlined in the City’s Official Plan. The document contains 2024 thresholds for affordable price or rent defined by the York Region. 

Community Housing Information

The City does not administer housing units. Information on subsidized housing applications, subsidized housing, emergency and transitional housing and other related information are available in housing resources provided by York Region.

Affordable Housing-Related Information

• Affordable Housing Strategy
• Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF)
• Community Improvement Plan (CIP) for Affordable Housing and Sustainable Design
• Bill 23, More Homes Built Fast Act, 2022