From the District of Muskoka:
The District of Muskoka is making historic investments in affordable housing. Through the 2025-2026 budget, Muskoka District Council has committed increases of $1 million annually over the next two years to expand existing housing and homelessness initiatives.
Through the Muskoka Affordable Housing Initiatives Program (MAHIP), two funding opportunities are now available for eligible builders, developers, and homeowners to help boost the supply of affordable housing across the district.
“Through MAHIP, the District can support builders small and large with getting more affordable housing built. We’ve seen a huge increase in the interest in this program and are delighted to be able to offer more grants this year, through the Big Move on Housing.” – Jeff Lehman, District Chair
Funding Opportunities
MAHIP Capital Incentive Program: Multi-Residential Rental Units
- The District will provide up to $100,000 per unit for developers and builders to create affordable rental housing through new construction or conversions of existing buildings such as schools, churches, or retail spaces, into multi-unit housing.
MAHIP Capital Incentive Program: Additional Residential Units (ARUs)
- The District will provide up to $50,000 per unit for homeowners/property owners to create ARUs (also known as secondary suites), such as basement apartments or garden suites, which can provide flexible housing options and rental income for families.
For detailed program information, eligibility, and applications, visit www.muskoka.on.ca/mahip.
Learn more about Muskoka’s action towards housing for everyone at www.muskoka.on.ca/housing
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Norm!
Here, here to additional taxes on, built for low income, subsidized units that are in disrepair and vacant!
Start taxing to retrieve the monies awarded to the owner(s) in subsidies.
Two million dollars should help. The big problem lies in the fact that builders can make way more money building unaffordable homes that are out of reach of lower income earners. It is too bad that municipalities can’t force owners to keep rents low. It is also a shame that buildings like the apartments on Monck Hill in Bracebridge are left un-repaired and vacant. Maybe if there were a severe tax for leaving buildings like that un-repaired and vacant something would be done with it.
Or maybe if there was no tax for 10 years, and no water and sewer charges lifetime applied to new rental units that rent for $1000 per month ,people would start to build affordable rental units. Removing tax on rental units won’t make money for municipalities but it might make it worthwhile for the construction of say 4,6,8 plexes of 400 sq. ft per unit that are heated by electricity and rent for $1000 per month. Tenants would only have to pay rent and hydro, owners would not pay tax for ten years. A 4 plex would pay the owner $48000 per year.