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Niagara Region moving forward with student housing strategy

The new strategy is part of Niagara Region’s broader Attainable Housing Strategy. Photo Credit: Pexels. 

Niagara Region has announced that it plans to move forward with a new post-secondary student housing strategy, which is specifically geared toward supporting students at schools like Brock University and Niagara College. 

According to the Region, this new strategy is part of its broader overall Attainable Housing Strategy, but officials want to have a specific sub-strategy that focuses on post-secondary students. 

“We’re worked closely with local post-secondary institutions, housing providers, and other interested parties to understand the full scope of the student housing challenges in Niagara,” said Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Michelle Sergi. “The strategy is the product of that collaboration and provides a roadmap that will benefit both students and the broader community.” 

The strategy has five main areas of focus. These include collecting data, increasing housing supply, securing funding from senior levels of government, creating effective policies, and building on existing partnerships and fostering new ones. 

The Region says the strategy is geared at helping students, but it could also help provide for more rental options for others in the Niagara Region community that are having a difficult time finding housing. 

Niagara Region says is consulted extensively with major educational institutions in the area, including Brock University and Niagara College. The Region also intends to support work already done by its municipalities. 

One of the key goals of the strategy is to learn from best practices in other parts of the country when it comes to student housing. Other key goals include collecting information, as well as improving collaboration between post-secondary institutions, housing providers, and all levels of government. 

“We are excited to move forward with a strategy that will facilitate the growth of student housing options in Niagara,” said Director of Partnerships and Communication Matt Robinson. “This work is aimed at unlocking our existing housing supply, and by building partnerships with key parties, we can ensure that the recommendations outlined in the strategy are not only practical but also innovative, creating viable long-term housing solutions for students and the entire region.” 

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