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Figure 2-Housing Continuum <br />The housing continuumrepresents the range of housing options availableto people. At one end <br />of the continuum there are people in crisis without housing, in shelters, living with housing <br />insecurity, or with housing in a poor state of repair. Further along are people living in transitional <br />and supportive housing or community housing where housing costs are subsidized. In the <br />middle are affordable rental and ownership housingoptions that people with moderate incomes <br />can afford. Until recently most households in Kitchener had a wide range of housing options they <br />could afford,but this is no longer the case. Now, nearly 80% of ownership housing units are only <br />affordable for the 35% of Kitchener households that have high incomes. Undertaking a Housing <br />Assessment helps us understand the forces on the housing continuum that make it more, or <br />less, suitable for people and more, or less, affordable for people. <br />Kitchener is a dynamic city experiencing recent growth and development which is expected to <br />continue in the future. The city attractsa wide diversity of people eager to live and work in the <br />community. The city is changing with taller buildings and a trend to smaller household sizes. <br />Over a 25-year period, Kitchener is expected to grow by approximately 80,000 people, which is <br />equivalent to about 35,000 new households.This growth brings both benefits and challenges. <br />The challenge addressed in the Housing Assessment is the impact on housing affordability for <br />existing and future residents. <br />Key Findings <br />1.The current housing delivery and support systemis not functioning effectively. <br />Housing needs are not being met and the existing silo approach by levels of government, <br />non-profits, institutions and the private sector is not as effective as needed. <br />2.Housing in recent years has become increasingly unaffordable for an increasingly <br />. Incomes are not keeping pace with rising costs of <br />rental and ownership housing. Inflation increased by 18%, average rents increased by 35 % <br />and average housing prices increased by 88% from 2008 to 2018. Most of the increase in <br />rents and housing prices occurred between 2016 and 2018. <br />3.Poverty and Core Housing Need is increasing in the City of Kitchener.Food Bank use <br />is increasing. The most significant increase has been by single people which has nearly <br /> <br />7 - 3 <br />