Steel tariffs threaten future of Hamilton’s affordable housing

Over the last year, Hamilton has worked hard to address the city’s housing crisis. With both new and permanent residents in need of affordable housing, the city has approved multiple projects that will serve both low and middle-income families. Due to the U.S. government’s new steel tariffs, the future of such projects has been put into jeopardy.

As of June 1, Canada’s exemption from steel and aluminum tariffs was revoked.

With the new tariffs causing the cost of steel to rise, the price of building affordable housing has skyrocketed.

Indwell, the affordable housing charity that acquired Royal Oak Dairy, claims that the cost of one of their current Hamilton projects has jumped an additional $300,000. The charity estimates that the price of their other projects may rise by $500,000.

Due to these costs, Indwell is worried that their projects might be stalled. The charity plans to fundraise to help cover additional costs brought on by tariffs.

Indwell isn’t the only group facing financial difficulties. CityHousing Hamilton currently has nine projects in the works; they too are bracing for rising costs.

Each group remains optimistic but the impact of the tariffs weighs heavy on their minds. Higher material costs means an impacted budget, an impacted budget means less housing, and less housing means a bleak future for those in need. At the end of the day, Hamilton desperately needs more affordable housing; all Hamiltonians deserve a place to live.

What do you think about the impact tariffs have on Hamilton’s affordable housing projects? Let us know in the comments.

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• affordable housing
• CityHousing Hamilton
• Hamilton
• HamOnt
• indwell
• low income housing
• middle income housing
• steel tariffs