Affordable housing 'vision' needed from feds, says Seiling

Local politicians are asking the federal government to invest long-term in affordable housing.

"We need some long-term, long-range planning," Seiling said. "We don't know whether the federal government is in this for the long haul."

"It would be nice to know where the vision is longer-term rather than just the five year band-aids," he added.

Seiling say the region is trying to meet the housing needs of its residents but without financial support from higher levels of government, there will always be a deficiency.

Earlier this year the federal government decided to renew its funding for affordable housing through the Investment in Affordable Housing progam. It requires the provinces to match a committment of $253 million a year, over five years. But according to Kitchener-Centre MPP John Milloy, it's still not enough. 

'Local solutions for local needs.' —Kitchener-Waterloo MP Peter Braid

"We've got to look at where the need is," Milloy said. "And we need to make sure the dollars are there from the federal government."

But Kitchener-Waterloo MP Peter Braid says the federal government has already pledged significant funds to affordable housing, and the rest is up to municipalities.

"I want to support the work that Ken and his colleagues are doing at the regional level," said Braid. "Local solutions for local needs."