Markham Inter-Church Committee for Affordable Housing

affordability
One in five spend 50% of income on housing

affordablity in Markham

Why Housing Affordability Matters in Markham

Affordable housing isn’t just a social issue—it’s a community necessity. It’s about ensuring that teachers, retail workers, seniors, early childhood educators, and newcomers can continue to live, work, and thrive in the city they call home. But in Markham, this is becoming increasingly difficult.

What Is Affordable Housing?

In simple terms, housing is considered affordable if a household spends no more than 30% of its gross income on shelter costs. These costs include rent or mortgage payments, utilities, and property taxes.

In Markham, affordable housing comes in two forms:

  • Affordable Market Rental Housing
    Rent is capped so that a moderate-income household can afford it. For example, in 2024:
    • 1-bedroom: $1,899/month
    • 2-bedroom: $2,224/month
    • 3+ bedrooms: $2,526/month
  • Subsidized Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) Housing
    Rent is set at 30% of the tenant’s actual income, making housing accessible to those with low or fixed incomes, such as seniors, ODSP recipients, or those receiving Ontario Works.

 

Why Is This a Big Issue in Markham?

Affordable housing is in crisis. Consider the following:

  • 1 in 3 households in Markham have housing affordability issues
  • 1 in 5 spend over 50% of their income just to keep a roof over their head
  • Over 14,800 households are on York Region’s subsidized housing waitlist
  • Wait times range from 7 to 10 years—or more
  • The average resale home price has doubled in the last 10 years
  • Rents are rising faster than inflation, pricing out even middle-income earners

Who Needs Affordable Housing?

It’s not just the unemployed or people facing crisis. Many working residents in Markham fall into the low-to-moderate income range—defined as households earning up to $155,535 per year.

Affordable housing ensures they can live near their jobs, schools, families, and support systems.

Why Can’t We Just Rely on the Market?

Markham, and York Region more broadly, have some of the lowest rental stock in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (just 14%). Meanwhile, demand for rentals is soaring—renter households grew by 42.3% between 2016 and 2021. Without more affordable, purpose-built rental housing, the gap between income and housing cost will only grow wider.

What’s Being Done?

To address this urgent need:

  • The City of Markham, York Region, and the Province of Ontario have committed to building more affordable homes.
  • York Region targets 25% of new homes to be affordable to low- and moderate-income households.
  • In key urban areas and near transit, that target rises to 35%.

MICAH’s mission aligns with these goals—creating long-term, stable, and affordable housing options in thriving, connected neighbourhoods.

Additional information about affordability in Markham: