New public dashboard shows Region’s progress on transformational affordable housing plan

August 01, 2025

Waterloo Region – Today, on National Housing Day, the Region of Waterloo launched a public dashboard that shares the progress we are making on the affordable housing plan, Building Better Futures: 2,500 Homes in 5 Years. 

The dashboard includes a running total of homes occupied and in development to date, as well as an interactive map showing the locations of the projects.

Building Better Futures aspires to increase the number of new affordable homes created from an average of 50 each year to 500. We will surpass this goal in the first year of the plan, with 680 new homes in development across the region this year.

In 2021 alone, families and individuals have moved into 61 of the 680 new homes, and the building of new units is starting to ramp up. One hundred and seventy nine of these units are supportive homes for people experiencing homelessness.  

“This progress demonstrates the Region’s commitment to accelerating the creation of affordable homes, with support from our partners in the community. We believe everyone deserves a place to call home, and having a home in which you feel safe is vital to the wellbeing of our entire community,” said Regional Chair Karen Redman.

Increasing affordable homes in Waterloo Region will impact all areas the community and Regional Council identified as priorities.  It will:

  • Help us progress towards ending chronic homelessness.
  • Make affordable housing more available to those who need it.
  • Create much-needed jobs in our community.
  • Improve the health, equity and wellbeing of individuals and communities.

The rapid increase in the number of new homes being developed is possible through the Region’s $20 million investment over two years, with federal and provincial funding to supplement the work. With the need for affordable housing growing, the Region recognizes that additional funding is crucial to address this issue more effectively.

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For more information please contact:

Lynsey Slupeiks, LSlupeiks@regionofwaterloo.ca