Global Affordable Housing Design Guidelines and Standards
The Region of Peel’s Affordable Housing Design Guidelines and Standards are a set of elements for consideration during the procurement, design and rehabilitation or retrofit phases that promote an active lifestyle among affordable housing residents.
Although intended for use by the Region of Peel and Peel Living, the guidelines can also be used as a stand-alone reference for other non-Region of Peel groups and innovative housing projects and developing housing policy.
It is the largest landlord in Peel and the third-largest social housing provider in Ontario.
Peel Living provides homes at 70 sites to 7,100 residents and is one of Peel’s 47 housing providers.
Strategic Action 1.5 of Peel’s Housing and Homelessness Plan: A Community Strategy (2014-2024) states that an implementation action is to “ensure housing development contributes to mixed-income and land use that promotes safe, prosperous, active and healthy communities.”
These affordable housing design guidelines alongside the Housing and Homelessness Plan more effectively advance this strategic action.
While using design to increase opportunities for physical activity and better health is relevant in any setting, it is particularly pertinent in the affordable housing context.
Individuals with lower socio-economic status experience economic, transportation and other barriers to physical activity,6 and experience higher rates of diabetes, heart disease and other chronic diseases.
Recent immigrants’ risk of developing diabetes is significantly increased by a combination of low income and low neighbourhoods walkability.