Council votes to investigate community bonds for affordable housing initiatives

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

As of January 2025, 503 individuals in Kingston are experiencing homelessness. With a significant need for affordable and supportive housing projects, the city is considering community bonds as a way to fund these initiatives.  The issue was discussed at council’s April 15 meeting.

Community bonds are typically issued by non-profits or charities to allow residents and organizations to invest directly in local projects, contributing to social impact and receiving some financial return. 

The approach has been used successfully in other Ontario communities, such as Toronto and Haliburton. 

Staff will present an information report by the third quarter of 2025 outlining best practices. 

Listen to the full story here.