Feds hope new digital tool will help affordable housing in north

The Government of Canada thinks it has an idea to help pave the way for the construction of affordable housing across northern Ontario.

Sudbury MP Viviane Lapointe announced $119,875 to help the Rural Ontario Institute (ROI) launch the Rural Housing Information System (RHIS).

It will enable ROI to hire a Northern Ontario Program Coordinator to roll-out the RHIS, a digital tool that supports municipalities and housing stakeholders in the planning, construction, and sale of affordable housing says a news release.

Funded through FedNor's Northern Ontario Development Program, the project is expected to serve on board 45 northern municipalities, allowing them to better understand their housing supply and market conditions for planning and development purposes.

"The RHIS is currently used by 223 rural municipalities in eastern and western Ontario, which has led to the development of new affordable housing and economic development opportunities in these regions," says the release.

As part of the project, the program coordinator will meet with municipal, Indigenous and economic development stakeholders to introduce the RHIS and start collecting housing data. The initiative will also include system demonstrations for partners to collect feedback, improve system data and prepare for promotional sessions to encourage builders and developers to become actively involved.

“Affordable housing is vital to our social and economic well-being and this project delivers on all fronts. The RHIS is a proven success and I'm thrilled that close to 150 northern Ontario communities are signing up to accelerate the planning, construction and sale of affordable housing in the region," said Lapointe.

Rural Ontario Canada has a shortage of affordable housing units, and this project is helping to break down barriers, collect vital information, and form strategic alliances that will lead to the construction of new affordable housing.” noted Zviko Gwekwerere, Northern Coordinator.

The Rural Housing Information System (RHIS) is an online automated tool that provides relevant data for the construction and sale of affordable housing including demographic, economic, housing market, housing supply, municipal development incentives, and zoning and municipal comparison tools information. It is targeted for use by community stakeholders, municipalities, builders, developers, housing corporations, and Realtors.