Op-ed: Mayor says affordable housing helps seniors stay in their homes
Helping Seniors Stay in Their Homes Through Affordable Housing Solutions
I’m committed to addressing the housing needs in our community, and one issue that’s especially important to families in Thunder Bay is helping seniors age in place while staying independent. With the right strategies and funding, like the federal Housing Accelerator Fund, we can make a real difference for seniors and for our entire community.
For many seniors, their home is not just a place to live; it’s where they’ve built memories and connections with their neighbourhood. However, as people age, keeping up with a big house can become physically and financially difficult. Many seniors want to stay close to their families and friends, but they don’t have housing options that fit their changing needs.
Aging in place means seniors can continue living in their own homes and communities safely, comfortably, and independently as they get older. This includes making simple changes to their homes, like adding ramps, grab bars, or stairlifts, which allow them to stay in their homes longer. Along with in-home health services, meal deliveries, and other support, aging in place can be a real option that empowers seniors.
Supporting aging in place doesn’t just help seniors—it can also help solve some of Thunder Bay’s bigger housing challenges. By creating affordable, accessible housing for seniors, we can free up larger family homes for younger families. Plus, it eases the pressure on long-term care facilities by helping seniors stay independent for longer.
The Housing Accelerator Fund is a great opportunity to make this happen. It can help Thunder Bay create more Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs), promote new housing that’s designed for aging in place, and make sure local services are part of community planning. Housing grants could also help families make necessary changes to support their aging loved ones.
Seniors and families can consider adding an ADU to their homes. This can help seniors save money by providing extra rental income or create a space for a caregiver. For families, adding an ADU is a great way to support aging parents or relatives while keeping them close, but still offering independence.
The City is offering resources to make it easier for homeowners to add these units, helping to provide more affordable housing options for everyone. It’s a simple way to make homes more flexible and accessible as we all age.
I’m excited about the progress we are making in promoting housing innovation. The Mayor’s Task Force on Building More Homes is reviewing policies to make housing more diverse, speed up approvals for new developments, and lower costs for homeowners. By focusing on aging in place solutions and advocating for Housing Accelerator Fund support, we can ensure Thunder Bay stays a welcoming and supportive community for everyone—especially seniors.
The benefits are clear. Aging in place helps seniors maintain their social connections and access local services, improving their quality of life while reducing pressure on healthcare and long-term care systems. At the same time, affordable housing options create economic opportunities and bring the community closer together.
Our community thrives when we take care of each other. By supporting aging in place, we can make sure Thunder Bay remains a great place for seniors and for everyone who calls it home.
Let’s work together to build a Thunder Bay that works for all generations. Visit: www.buildthunderbay.ca for more information.
– Ken Boshcoff, Mayor of Thunder Bay & Chair of the Mayor’s Task Force on Building More Homes – tbnewswatch.com
article website here
Not sue exactly what ‘affordable” housing is. Does it mean that each person will be charged different rates of rent dependent on their income? That means people living next to each other will be paying different amounts to live in the building. Will that not cause a problem? What incentive is there to have a higher income then? Why save money? Spending it all before you start looking for “affordable” housing might make sense. Maybe running up large debt levels will also lower your rent.
The way I see it, people who work hard and save their cash for retirement and stay out of debt will be worse off than someone who spent all of their cash and racks up huge credit card debt. I cannot support that and neither should you.
Someone has to pay for this subsidized housing, lets call it what it is, taxpayer subsidized housing, and it sure is not going to be the people that lived for today, never thinking about the future at all. It will he fools that saved.