Council backs development of Student Housing Strategy as rental pressures mount in Kingston

By Christena Lawrie, CFRC's Broadcast Journalist and Local Journalism Initiative Reporter.

With unanimous support from Council, the City will be moving forward with the development of a Student Housing Strategy.

According to the motion, brought forward by Councillor Conny Glenn, the absence of a coordinated framework has contributed to reduced availability of long-term housing for families, seniors, and workers, as students increasingly compete within the same housing supply.

The strategy will consider zoning tools, partnerships with institutions and developers, and measures to support neighbourhood compatibility. 

Glenn noted the unity on this topic across the community, stating, “They’re working together, and the great thing about it is they’re holding hands, and when you’re holding hands you can’t point fingers. So I think this is a huge step forward.”

Staff will report back to Council in Q2 of 2026 with a proposed scope, including cost and estimated timing for the completion of a Student Housing Strategy.

Listen to the full story here.