Ontario Rewards Kingston with $3.2 Million for Exceeding 2023 Housing Targets
Funding can be used to invest in housing- or community-enabling infrastructure
The Voice of Canada: Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, announced Ontario is providing Kingston with $3,200,000 in funding through the Building Faster Fund as the city has exceeded its 2023 housing target, breaking ground on a total of 1,465 new housing units last year.
“I applaud the work being done by Kingston and all the other municipalities that have met or exceeded their housing targets and I’m proud to see these communities helping lead the province when it comes to building homes,” said Paul Calandra, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “My message to mayors across this province is that we must continue to work together and build on our progress on making homeownership a reality for everyone. We will give you the tools you need, including through our recent budget investment of more than $1.8 billion in housing-enabling infrastructure.”
Announced in August 2023, the Building Faster Fund is a three-year, $1.2 billion program that is designed to encourage municipalities to address the housing supply crisis. The fund rewards municipalities that make significant progress against their targets by providing funding for housing-enabling and community-enabling infrastructure. Funding is provided to municipalities that have reached at least 80 per cent of their provincially assigned housing target for the year with increased funding for municipalities that exceed their target.
“Kingston was one of several communities across Ontario to surpass our provincial housing targets last year. As we continue to grow, investments like the one announced today will ensure we remain focused on housing that’s affordable and accessible,” said Bryan Paterson, Mayor of Kingston. “Thank you to the province for its commitment to our shared housing priorities and recognizing we can’t do this alone. Programs like the Building Faster Fund play a crucial role, not only in constructing houses but also in developing welcoming communities.”
The Building Faster Fund includes $120 million for small, rural and northern municipalities to help build housing-enabling infrastructure and prioritize projects that speed up the increase of housing supply.
“Congratulations to Mayor Paterson and every member of your team at the City of Kingston,” said John Jordan, MPP for Lanark-Frontenac-Kingston. “You not only accepted the challenge put forth to municipalities throughout Ontario, you exceeded project targets significantly – getting shovels in the ground for over 1,400 new homes in 2023. The combined efforts of skilled professionals at every level have paid off and the City of Kingston will benefit with an additional $3.2 million from the Building Faster Fund. Because you’ve worked collaboratively to find the path forward, there’s renewed hope for the people of Kingston who are waiting to cross the threshold to a new home and a better future.”
