The city’s well-established need for more housing, and affordable housing in particular, was front and centre during Mayor Paul Lefebvre’s public address at city hall on Wednesday.
His comments marked the halfway mark of city council’s four-year mandate, and highlighted what they’ve done thus far and where the next two years are anticipated to bring them.
“‘Growing together’ will remain our guiding principle as we continue to expand housing, connect residents with the social services they need to thrive, and champion our growing local economy,” Lefebvre told Wednesday’s crowd near the end of his remarks.
“I am confident we will overcome the challenges ahead and create an even stronger, healthier Greater Sudbury.”
During his remarks, Lefebvre highlighted what he perceives to be a turning point for Greater Sudbury’s tight housing market, with residential builds on the rise.
In 2022, there were 457 permits issued for new residential housing units, which grew to 635 in 2023 and 833 during the first four quarters of 2024 alone.
Not only is the city meeting its provincial housing targets, he noted, “we’re 50 per cent of the way to our 10-year goal set by the province already just three years in.”
As past housing reports have clarified, although the city needs more housing in general, affordable housing is the area of greatest need within an economic climate in which market housing makes up the vast majority of builds.
Affordable housing is typically only possible through government help, including subsidization.
During his remarks, Lefebvre announced that he’s working with local Royal Canadian Legion branches to advocate for funding from senior levels of government to support affordable and supportive housing for veterans.
“We owe them a promise of stability, dignity and support for their transition back to civilian life,” he said, flagging an ongoing federal effort to help house veterans as something the city might tap into, and which Sault Ste. Marie recently found success with.
Following his public remarks, Lefebvre told local journalists that various other segments of the population, including youths, are also in need of housing and wraparound services.
The Community Safety and Well-Being Advisory Panel’s efforts will be highlighted during a public meeting of city council in February, Lefebvre said, including what he described as a more “action-orientated” focus than they’ve had in the past. They focus on such things as vulnerable communities and affordable housing.
Meanwhile, Lefebvre said the city has hired an additional staff member to keep on top of applying for funding from senior levels of government for such things as affordable housing, and pledged that the public would “see more of an active role by the municipality" in heading such efforts which were historically led by community groups.
A recent success story on this front arose last month, when Premier Doug Ford announced $34.9 million in provincial funding toward water/wastewater infrastructure in the Lively/Walden area to help shore up capacity for thousands of additional housing units in the area.
Included among municipal efforts will be shoring up municipal land for affordable housing projects, such as what they already did with tracts of land in Azilda and Minnow Lake.
Alongside pledging future actions in addressing Greater Sudbury’s affordable housing shortfall, Lefebvre also cited past city council actions, such as in approving the 40-unit transitional housing complex on Lorraine Street slated to open soon, a 14-unit affordable seniors complex on Sparks Street and assistance in bringing the non-profit 38-unit affordable housing complex on Pearl Street to fruition.
City council also approved a warming space expansion for this winter, which includes the repurposing of the supervised consumption site to accommodate a warming space with overnight washroom facilities. They also approved the purchase of 307 Cedar St. to accommodate 26 shelter beds, a portion of which may later be converted into transitional housing.
Homelessness has reached record levels in recent months, with not enough housing available for everyone who needs it. Earlier this month, Lefebvre joined several other Ontario mayors by signing an open letter to Premier Doug Ford requesting various actions on homelessness/addictions, including the possible use of the notwithstanding clause.
For the full written version of Lefebvre’s two-year address, click here.
Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.
