Community and Health Services

That Community and Health Services reconvene into open session. In Favor (16) B. Vrbanovic, J. Erb, J. Nowak, K. Redman, M. Harris, S. Shantz, S. Foxton, D. McCabe, J. Liggett, D. Craig, P. Wolf, C. James, R. Deutschmann, N. Salonen, C. Huinink, and K. Williams

That the Consent Agenda items be received for information and approved. In Favor (16) B. Vrbanovic, J. Erb, J. Nowak, K. Redman, M. Harris, S. Shantz, S. Foxton, D. McCabe, J. Liggett, D. Craig, P. Wolf, C. James, R. Deutschmann, N. Salonen, C. Huinink, and K. Williams

That the Regional Municipality of Waterloo approve an increase of $1,542,836 to the 2024 Homelessness and Supportive Housing Operating Budget expenditure and federal subsidy with no net property tax levy impact as outlined in report COR-CFN-24-001 dated March 5, 2024.

That the Regional Municipality of Waterloo take the following action for preserving existing affordable housing in the private market and facilitating the transition of private market rentals into long-term affordable housing through acquisition as outlined in CSD-HOU-24-003, dated March 5, 2024: Direct staff to explore the creation of a Multi-Unit Rental Acquisition Program to preserve existing affordable housing in the private market and facilitate the transition of private market rentals into long-term affordable housing; and For staff to bring forward any recommendations to the Regional Council for consideration; Direct staff to work with the area municipalities to explore the creation of right of first refusal policy and identification of affordable housing at risk of loss; and Direct staff to work with area municipalities to assemble a Waterloo Region Housing Needs Assessment to inform a targeted affordable housing acquisition strategy. In Favor (16) B. Vrbanovic, J. Erb, J. Nowak, K. Redman, M. Harris, S. Shantz, S. Foxton, D. McCabe, J. Liggett, D. Craig, P. Wolf, C. James, R. Deutschmann, N. Salonen, C. Huinink, and K. Williams

That the Regional Municipality of Waterloo take the following action with respect to rental housing protections and tenant displacement as outlined in CSD-HOU-24-003, dated March 5, 2024: Direct staff to work with the area municipalities to explore the creation of renovation, conversion, and demolition rental housing protection policies; Direct staff to engage with service providers who support tenants at risk of or are currently experiencing displacement to: Identify gaps in support of displaced tenants and for tenants at risk of experiencing eviction caused by renovation, demolition, or conversion; Develop potential solutions to fill gaps; and Bring forward gaps and potential solutions to the Regional Council for consideration. In Favor (16) B. Vrbanovic, J. Erb, J. Nowak, K. Redman, M. Harris, S. Shantz, S. Foxton, D. McCabe, J. Liggett, D. Craig, P. Wolf, C. James, R. Deutschmann, N. Salonen, C. Huinink, and K. Williams

That the Regional Municipality of Waterloo take the following action with respect to advocating for the preservation of existing affordable housing as outlined in CSD-HOU-24-003, dated March 5, 2024: Request that the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario establish acquisition programs that would support the acquisitions and renovations/conversions for all types of private market residential properties and other properties, to create new permanent affordable and supportive homes. In Favor (16) B. Vrbanovic, J. Erb, J. Nowak, K. Redman, M. Harris, S. Shantz, S. Foxton, D. McCabe, J. Liggett, D. Craig, P. Wolf, C. James, R. Deutschmann, N. Salonen, C. Huinink, and K. Williams

That the meeting adjourn at 3:37 p.m. In Favor (15) B. Vrbanovic, J. Nowak, K. Redman, M. Harris, S. Shantz, S. Foxton, D. McCabe, J. Liggett, D. Craig, P. Wolf, C. James, R. Deutschmann, N. Salonen, C. Huinink, and K. Williams

That Community and Health Services reconvene into open session. In Favor (16): K. Redman, D. Craig, R. Deutschmann, J. Erb, S. Foxton, M. Harris, C. Huinink, C. James, J. Liggett, D. McCabe, J. Nowak, N. Salonen, S. Shantz, B. Vrbanovic, K. Williams, and P. Wolf

That the Regional Municipality of Waterloo take the following action for preserving existing affordable housing in the private market and facilitating the transition of private market rentals into long-term affordable housing through acquisition as outlined in CSD-HOU-24- 003, dated March 5, 2024: a. Direct staff to explore the creation of a Multi-Unit Rental Acquisition Program to preserve existing affordable housing in the private market and facilitate the transition of private market rentals into long-term affordable housing; and i. For staff to bring forward any recommendations to the Regional Council for consideration; b. Direct staff to work with the area municipalities to explore the creation of right of first refusal policy and identification of affordable housing at risk of loss; and c. Direct staff to work with area municipalities to assemble a Waterloo Region Housing Needs Assessment to inform a targeted affordable housing acquisition strategy. In Favor (16): K. Redman, D. Craig, R. Deutschmann, J. Erb, S. Foxton, M. Harris, C. Huinink, C. James, J. Liggett, D. McCabe, J. Nowak, N. Salonen, S. Shantz, B. Vrbanovic, K. Williams, and P. Wolf

That the Regional Municipality of Waterloo take the following action with respect to rental housing protections and tenant displacement as outlined in CSD-HOU-24-003, dated March 5, 2024: a. Direct staff to work with the area municipalities to explore the creation of renovation, conversion, and demolition rental housing protection policies; b. Direct staff to engage with service providers who support tenants at risk of or are currently experiencing displacement to: i. Identify gaps in support of displaced tenants and for tenants at risk of experiencing eviction caused by renovation, demolition, or conversion; ii. Develop potential solutions to fill gaps; and iii. Bring forward gaps and potential solutions to the Regional Council for consideration. In Favor (16): K. Redman, D. Craig, R. Deutschmann, J. Erb, S. Foxton, M. Harris, C. Huinink, C. James, J. Liggett, D. McCabe, J. Nowak, N. Salonen, S. Shantz, B. Vrbanovic, K. Williams, and P. Wolf

That the Regional Municipality of Waterloo take the following action with respect to advocating for the preservation of existing affordable housing as outlined in CSD-HOU-24-003, dated March 5, 2024: a. Request that the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario establish acquisition programs that would support the acquisitions and renovations/conversions for all types of private market residential properties and other properties, to create new permanent affordable and supportive homes. In Favor (16): K. Redman, D. Craig, R. Deutschmann, J. Erb, S. Foxton, M. Harris, C. Huinink, C. James, J. Liggett, D. McCabe, J. Nowak, N. Salonen, S. Shantz, B. Vrbanovic, K. Williams, and P. Wolf

That the Regional Municipality of Waterloo take the following action with respect to the creation of a Property Tax Exemption Program for Affordable Housing as set out in report CSD-HOU-24-004 dated March 5, 2024: a. Repeal By-law Number 02-035, attached as Appendix “A”, and replace with By-Law Number 24-***, attached as Appendix “B” for the purposes of updating the by-law to allow Council to exempt regional and education property taxes for municipal housing facilities and also for general house-keeping amendments, which has been prepared in a form satisfactory to the Regional Solicitor; b. Approve the Property Tax Exemption for Affordable Housing Program (“Program”) and guidelines for applications made to the Region for properties eligible for the Program attached as Appendix “C”; c. Authorize the Commissioner of Community Services to negotiate and execute on behalf of the Region, agreements with housing providers for the Program, to the satisfaction of the Regional Solicitor; d. Direct staff to: a. Develop an application process with intake occurring in Q2 of 2024 for the 2025 taxation year; b. Review the uptake and application of the Program to determine property tax impacts due to class shifts, communicating these in advance of 2025 budget process; e. Direct staff to work with interested area municipalities within Waterloo Region to exempt the lower tier portion of property taxes for eligible properties under the Program; and f. Advocate to the Government of Ontario to am

That the meeting adjourn at 3:37 p.m. In Favor (15): K. Redman, D. Craig, R. Deutschmann, S. Foxton, M. Harris, C. Huinink, C. James, J. Liggett, D. McCabe, J. Nowak, N. Salonen, S. Shantz, B. Vrbanovic, K. Williams, and P. Wolf