Helping build more homes, faster...

The Town of Gander is proud to announce that it has been awarded $4.35 million in funding from the Federal Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF). The HAF initiative, launched by the Government of Canada, aims to fast-track the creation of 100,000 new homes across the country, addressing critical housing supply and affordability challenges - supporting municipalities that take innovative actions to grow housing supply, expedite approvals, and foster complete, low-carbon, and climate-resilient communities.

Enhancing Housing Supply in Gander: Gander’s population saw a steady growth of 23% between 2001 and 2021, far surpassing provincial averages over that time period. The rising cost of housing across Canada, driven primarily by insufficient supply, has highlighted the urgent need for increased home construction. In Gander, despite higher-than-average household incomes, 17.5% of households face affordability issues, with renters particularly affected - 32.8% of renters spending more than 30% of their income on accommodation. Recent market pressures and interest rate hikes have exacerbated these challenges, slowing housing production and limiting the availability of diverse and affordable housing options.

Gander's Housing Accelerator Fund Action Plan: In response to these challenges, the Town of Gander has developed a comprehensive HAF Action Plan designed to stimulate housing development and ensure a broader range of housing options that meet local needs. Key initiatives of the plan include:

• Housing Needs Assessment Update: identify local growth trends and associated housing requirements, housing options currently available, affordability and other barriers in relation to resident needs. Implement policies, practices and tools to help overcome identified impediments.
• Affordable Housing Incentive Package: assess, develop and launch a suite of targeted incentives that support housing development in order to expand the supply of housing that is affordable.
• Housing-Based Zoning & Regulatory Reforms: evaluate, define and amend regulatory tools (including zoning bylaw) to support housing affordability and permit a broader range of multi-residential housing options in the community.
• Middle & High-Density Housing Tools: facilitate the development of ‘missing middle’ and higher density housing forms using targeted regulatory practices and incentives.
• Innovative Practices in Housing Delivery: promote innovative practices aimed at expediting the timely delivery of appropriate, affordable and resilient housing options.
•  Establishing a Municipal Land Bank: develop a municipal land inventory and associated mechanisms to acquire and utilize public lands suitable for housing development.
•  Property Utilization Strategy: establish a formal strategy and implementation tools for maximizing the use of serviced lands and existing developments for housing, thereby promoting the effective use of land and infrastructure.
• Capacity, Partnership and Education Strategies: create capacity, partnership and education strategies that build additional stakeholder capacity, foster beneficial housing partnerships and broaden awareness of housing issues among the general public.
• Implementing 4-Unit As-of-Right City Wide: implement an “as-of-right” policy, permitting multiplexes of up to four units on residential lots, without requiring additional zoning or discretionary use approvals.

The Action Plan sets ambitious yet achievable targets to bring housing development back in line with historical levels, while also seeding future opportunities beyond the program, fostering a more enduring and effective local housing system.

“Build Up Gander” Initiative: In alignment with the HAF Action Plan, Gander has been proactive in addressing housing needs through its "Build Up Gander" initiative - a cornerstone of the Town's strategy to address housing challenges. This program focuses on encouraging the development of a wider range of housing densities and affordability options. Key aspects of “Build Up Gander” include:

• Incentivizing Diverse Housing Forms: Encouraging the construction of different housing types, from single-family homes to multi-residential units, to meet the varied needs of the community.
• Streamlining Development Processes: Reducing bureaucratic red tape to make it easier and faster for developers to get approval for new housing projects.
• Promoting Sustainable Practices: Supporting the development of energy-efficient homes and incorporating climate resilience into housing designs.
• Community Engagement: Collaborating with local stakeholders, including residents and developers, to build a consensus around housing solutions and foster a supportive environment for new developments.

“Build Up Gander” has already made significant strides in addressing market challenges and setting a solid foundation for the Town’s participation in the HAF program.

Anticipated Outcomes: The Town’s Action Plan sets ambitious targets, aiming to bring development activity back to historical levels by adopting a more responsive regulatory regime. Expected outcomes include the construction of at least two hundred units across the HAF 4-year funding period; including seventy “missing middle” housing units and sixty-eight “other form” multi-unit housing - 35 percent of which will be affordable units. The initiatives are designed to create a sustainable and effective local housing system that meets community needs over time.

Alignment with Provincial Recommendations: Gander's HAF Action Plan aligns with recommendations from the "Pull Together: Addressing Housing Insecurity" study by MNL/Choices for Youth, including ending single-family home zoning, creating zoning provisions for higher density housing developments, and prioritizing affordable housing projects. These proactive measures demonstrate Gander's commitment to addressing housing affordability and supply challenges comprehensively. By implementing these recommendations, Gander is well-positioned to achieve its housing goals and support its broader objectives of increasing housing construction rates over the next decade.

The Town of Gander is poised to make significant strides in addressing housing challenges with the support of the Housing Accelerator Fund. Through strategic initiatives and Federal, Provincial and Local Stakeholder collaboration, Gander aims to build more homes, support diverse housing options, and enhance overall community well-being.