  
York Region is a vast area that stretches across the whole northern boundary of the Toronto Area. York Region forms many of the suburban areas of Toronto and stretches all the way up to the southern shores of Lake Simcoe.
York Region is made up of the Towns of Markham, Thornhill, Vaughan, King, Aurora, Whitchurch/Stouffville, Newmarket, East Gwillimbury, Georgina and Richmondhill.
In 1981 there were 77,000 household units in York Region, by June 30, 2002 this number had increased to 236,848. Current projections estimate that by 2026 there will be approximately 429,000 household units in York Region.
For more information regarding York Region's past and projected household growth patterns click here.
Although the majority of York Region's housing stock is composed of single detached dwellings, other housing types such as semi-detached, row, and apartments comprise 26% of the housing mix (June 2002).
Single detached dwellings' share of York Region's overall housing stock composition, has decreased from 80% in 1991 to 74% in 2002.
Rapid growth is a defining characteristic of York Region. In 1981, 258,000 people lived in York Region. As of June 2002 this figure had grown to 803,780, representing a 68% increase in the population in just 20 years. As Figure 1 displays, the number of households in York Region increased from 77,000 in 1981 to 224,000 by 20011.
Although there has been growth in all nine of York Region's area municipalities, the majority of household growth since 1981 has occurred in the southern municipalities of Vaughan, Richmond Hill, and Markham. As illustrated in Figure 2, these municipalities experienced household growth rates of 9.8%, 6.3%, and 5.0% respectively. It is estimated that up to 70% of the 25 year projected growth will be concentrated in these municipalities.
As of October 2001, there were 7,197 units of social housing in York Region. There are an estimated 4,795 applications on the waiting list for social housing in York Region.
Both the Province of Ontario and the Government of Canada withdrew their support for the development of social housing in 1995; since that time, no new social housing units have been built.
Between 1991 and 1996, the proportion of income dedicated to shelter has increased for both owners and tenants in York Region. However, as illustrated below, a higher percentage of tenants are dedicating more than 30% and 50% of their incomes to shelter than owners.
Social housing provides affordable housing for people whose income, age, social, or health needs prevent them from finding adequate housing in the private rental market. In York Region there are 7,197 units of social housing. Funding responsibility for social housing was transferred to the Region in 1998. The full ownership of 872 units of social housing was transferred to York Region on January 1, 2001.
York Region's housing strategy is intended to address the growing need for affordable and diversified housing. Adopted by Regional Council on June 27, 2002, the strategy will provide an action plan to meet the housing challenges facing York Region.
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