City Staff Present Scope of Work for New Student Housing Strategy

By Aara Macauley, CFRC's Broadcast Journalist and Local Journalism Initiative Reporter.

As previously reported by CFRC, City staff presented their annual population, housing, and workforce update report to council on July 7. Included in that report was a comprehensive summary and scope of work for a proposed Student Housing Strategy.

The draft proposal stemmed from a council directive stating that “the absence of a coordinated student housing framework has contributed to pressures in the broader rental market, including reduced availability of long-term rental housing for families, seniors, and workers.”

The City of Kingston is home to Queen’s University, St. Lawrence College, and the Royal Military College, and graduates of these institutions have the potential to contribute valuable skills to the city’s labour market. The report argues that without stable and affordable housing options during and after their studies, however, students and recent graduates are more likely to leave the City, hindering the City’s capacity to capitalize on the economic return on investment that comes with local employment of graduates, including income growth, and long- term population stability.

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