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Each episode of Walls Within features first-hand stories from Circles community members of their search for a safe, affordable and fulfilling place to call home. Through these stories, we hope to raise awareness of the scale and impact of the housing crisis and, ultimately, inspire action.

Walls Within is available on all popular podcast platforms.

The Problem

Muskoka is in a housing crisis. On the individual level, housing is a basic need; however, it is also a key requirement for the wealth and health of the overall economy. According to the 2018 Vital Signs report, secondary or seasonal homes account for approximately 47% of the homes in Muskoka. This contributes to a robust seasonal economy, but what might be less known to the general public is that rental rates and housing costs have been increasing at rates that cannot keep up with local salaries. On top of that, homes available to rent are in extremely low supply.

Muskoka Vital Signs also highlights the reality that 13% of Muskoka is living in poverty and that employment income is 21% lower than the rest of the province ($26,918 vs $33,946). Seasonal poverty is something many Muskoka residents are faced with every winter when tourism and construction work is limited. Muskoka’s vast rural landscape and lack of public transportation make accessible housing even further from reach.

The rental market is grim. The Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) reports that the average rental unit in Huntsville is $1033, but anyone looking for a place to rent would tell you otherwise. The options are few and far between and you’d be challenged to find a suitable space for less than $1500 per month. Two-bedroom units run upwards of $1800 a month. Listings go fast and are competitive.

Finding a spot with rent geared to income is even harder to come by. There are 468 subsidized housing units in Muskoka, and as of 2017, there were 640 applicants on the waitlist. That translates to an average of 6 to 8 years of waiting.

Many Muskoka residents are facing homelessness, forcing them to live in cars, tents or on couches. This project seeks to illuminate the real stories of Muskoka residents and how the housing crisis impact them directly.

Take Action

To learn more about housing issues in Muskoka, check out these local groups and organizations that are doing important work in our community:

• Community Living Huntsville: Community Living Huntsville provides many supports and services for adults with developmental disabilities. Supports and services include Supported Independent and Group Living, Planning, Supported Employment, and Community Participation. We also offer our Pathways Program to people who are ineligible or waitlisted for funded services.

• Gravenhurst Against Poverty (GAP): The Gravenhurst Against Poverty Mission is to be an inclusive, collaborative, community-based organization which supports people in difficulty by identifying issues and resources and providing timely solutions in the Greater Gravenhurst Area. G.A.P.’s mission has evolved to support the social inclusion and well-being of vulnerable children and youth.

• Habitat Gateway North: Habitat brings communities together to help families build strength, stability and self-reliance through affordable home ownership.

• Muskoka Community Foundation: Muskoka Community Foundation’s vision is that Muskoka will include and offer opportunities to everyone, and possess the knowledge and ability needed to shape its future. Muskoka will be able to address pressing issues like hunger, unemployment and housing, and our citizens will benefit from the best our community can offer: the arts, recreation, health care, education, safe and inclusive neighbourhoods and a healthy environment.

• Muskoka Community Land Trust: Depending on the needs of the community, a Community Land Trust can provide many community assets, including agricultural land, civic buildings, and affordable housing.

• Muskoka Housing Task Force: In March 2019, Muskoka District Council endorsed the recommendation for the creation of a grass-roots, diverse and action-oriented “task force” to identify and promote strategies and opportunities for a range of housing options across Muskoka.

• Muskoka Women’s Advocacy Group (MWAG): Muskoka Women's Advocacy Group advocates for better life opportunities and increased options for women in Muskoka and to encourage recognition of the value of women in society. They provide safe and secure shelters to abused women and their children fleeing an abusive home environment. MWAG operates two 24-hour crisis shelters for abused women & children – Muskoka Interval House in Bracebridge & Chrysalis in Huntsville.

• Poverty Reduction of Muskoka Planning Table (PROMPT): Prompt is a network of local volunteers, groups and agencies mobilized to reduce poverty in the District of Muskoka.

• Residents Against Muskoka Poverty (RAMP): Residents Against Muskoka Poverty is a volunteer organization with a mission to reduce regional generational poverty in Muskoka by raising awareness and supporting programs that are working to lift people up, and out of poverty.

• United Way Simcoe Muskoka: Every day, our communities face new and evolving challenges caused by poverty and social exclusion. Despite the incredible work done by frontline charities across Simcoe Muskoka, there are gaps that overwhelm and challenge too many of our most vulnerable. To address that gap, United Way Simcoe Muskoka is funding six multi-year, cross-sector collaborative projects across our communities. By bringing together partners from all sectors – public, private, faith and charities – we know these projects will be able to not only meet the needs of our most vulnerable but provide a life of increased potential.

Please note: The opinions expressed within the podcast episodes belong to the speakers and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of The Community YWCA of Muskoka.