By Mike Anderson & Angie Sullivan
Georgina Town Council took a big step towards addressing the local housing crisis voting unanimously (6-0) on January 21 to approve a new affordable housing project in Keswick.
The Town will enter a Contribution Agreement with Housing York Inc. (HYI), the Region’s community housing provider, to construct a five-storey building with 86 self-contained housing units at 187-195 The Queensway South in Keswick.
Of those units, 50 will be designated as affordable housing, including 32 for community housing and 18 for transitional housing. The remaining 36 units will be reserved for emergency housing.
The building will also include 8,000 square feet of new multi-purpose community space for local community organizations.
HYI was selected through a competitive process after the Town issued a Request for Expression of Interest (REOI) on April 29, 2025.
The Town received seven REOI submissions, however, according to staff and the Town’s consultant, Tim Welch, HYI’s proposal was selected based on construction readiness, financial capacity, experience, and alignment with program requirements.
Under the terms of the agreement, the Town will contribute approximately $3.023 million towards the project’s $60.5 million capital cost, which is earmarked in the Region’s 2026 capital budget.
The Town’s funding is a comprised of $1.5 million it received from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) and a $1.5 million contribution made available by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing’s Building Faster Fund.
However, the CMHC funds came with stipulations. They had to be used to create at least 49 new affordable units, and the proposed units must remain affordable for 25 years. Additionally, building permits must be issued by December 24, 2027, and the Town’s funding must be spent by December 24, 2028.
During his presentation to Council, Kevin Pal, general manager for York Region’s Social Services, pointed out rising costs continue to limit options for low and moderate-income households.
In 2024, York Region’s subsidized housing wait list reached 18,419 households, with 4,500 new applications.
The Region’s current supply of 7,079 community housing units is not meeting growing demand.
For instance, seniors in Georgina must wait on average 6.7 years for a subsidized apartment, while the wait time for non-seniors is 10.5 years.
There is also a pressing need for emergency and transitional housing in Georgina.
In 2025, 223 people accessing Inn From the Cold’s Georgina drop‑in services were referred to emergency and transitional housing supports.
Regional Councillor Naomi Davison, who pushed for a special Regional council session on housing and homelessness in 2024, is delighted the project will go forward.
“By combining resources and expertise, York Region and the Town of Georgina are not just creating affordable housing but also access to essential services and community spaces,” she told the Post.
“This development project is part of a broader effort to increase housing stability and provide long-term solutions that meet the diverse needs of individuals and families. This is a brand new, safe and secure facility with the full range of regional supports, and represents tens of millions of York Region funding.
“Bringing this facility to Georgina is a spectacular win for our town, our residents, and this community we are so fortunate to be a part of.”
During the meeting, both Davison and Ward 4 Councillor Dale Genge pressed Pal for confirmation that Georgina residents will be given priority access to the new affordable housing units.
“Our intent is to have this affordable housing project support residents of Keswick, Sutton, and Pefferlaw. There’s some further work that we need to do to look at that and make sure that that’s sort of built into the project,” Pal replied.
Mayor Margaret Quirk, who serves on the Board of Directors for Housing York Inc., also stressed her support for the project.
“This project is about more than bricks and mortar, it’s about hope, stability and new beginnings,” Mayor Quirk said.
“For many families in our community, affordable housing simply hasn’t been an option before. This development changes that.
This work reflects the direction set out in our Strategic Plan and Housing Needs Assessment, both of which call for more diverse, affordable, and supportive housing options in Georgina.
It underscores Council’s commitment to building a resilient, inclusive community where everyone has the opportunity to belong and thrive.”
Mayor Quirk also pointed out that the new building, with 8,000 square feet of community space, will benefit not only the residents, but the wider community.
“While the potential uses of the 8,000 square feet of community space have yet not yet been finalized, I do see this space as an opportunity for local groups and organizations to provide much needed programs and services,” she said.
“This could include perhaps a second location for the Georgina Community Food Pantry, a community kitchen, flexible community meeting room space for local community organizations to meet or to run programs, including things such as employment training, and health and wellness programs from South Lake. Also, recreation programs from the Town and Regional programs and services. And the list goes on and on.”
“We need to have community space, not just for the people living in the affordable housing projects, but for the community at large, so that people don’t drive past that building and say, ‘Oh, that’s affordable housing.’
No, they turn into the driveway because they’re going to a program there or they’re providing a service from their organization.”
According to Pal, HYI and the Region would like to get shovels in the ground in 2026, but, anticipating delays, construction is likely to begin in 2027/28, with occupancy in 2030.
A Community Open House is scheduled for Feb. 24, 2026, from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Georgina Ice Palace Hall.
