Housing: Mississauga Needs More Homes People Can Actually Afford

When I talk to families in Mississauga about housing, one thing I hear is that they want more options. Some families want their parents or adult children to live with them. Others are looking for ways to make room for a growing family or create a rental unit to help with the cost of owning a home.

For too many families in Mississauga, finding a home that fits their needs and their budget is becoming harder. We need more housing, but we also need to make sure residents have the freedom to decide what works for their own properties and their own families.

I believe property owners should be able to make those decisions for themselves. If a homeowner wants to expand their house to create additional units, whether for a growing family, a multi-generational household or a rental unit, they should have the ability to do so.

In fact, Carolyn Parrish and I worked together to make fourplexes permitted as-of-right in Mississauga. This was an important step because it gives homeowners more options while creating additional housing within neighbourhoods that already have roads, schools and other infrastructure.

Adding units to existing homes can help families stay in the communities they know and love. It can give grandparents the opportunity to live closer to their children and grandchildren. It can also give homeowners the ability to create a rental unit and help provide more housing for other residents.

We need to continue looking for practical ways to build more homes without taking decisions away from the people who own them. That means making it easier for homeowners to add units where they believe it makes sense, while ensuring new development is properly planned and supported by the infrastructure our communities need.

As Mayor, I will continue supporting policies that give homeowners more choice and create more opportunities for families to find a home in Mississauga. We don't need City Hall telling every homeowner what their property should look like. We need a city that gives residents the flexibility to make decisions that work for their families.

Housing affordability requires more supply, more choice and fewer unnecessary barriers. Mississauga should be a city where families can afford to put down roots, grow their families and stay in the communities they call home.