Housing
Will I be able to afford to live here?
This candidate has spoken about this issue more than once. Each statement is shown with its own source.
Nabi: with the private housing market slowed, Kitchener needs non-market affordable housing solutions.
- Affordable housing a top priority across Kitchener; city approvals are not the bottleneck.
- Double down on non-market solutions: social housing, CMHC fund, land-lease public land.
“My experience as an urban planner taught me how to welcome new neighbours while protecting mature trees, enhancing walkability, and making streets safer. Affordable housing remains one of the biggest priorities for neighbours across Kitchener. Since signing the provincial housing pledge in 2023, Kitchener has approved over 15,000 homes which is 43% of our target. However, only 5,000 have completed their building permit. City approvals are not the bottleneck for housing supply. As the private market for housing has slowed down, we need non-market solutions for affordable housing. According to the National Housing Accord, Canada must double the existing social housing stock to bring the country up to OECD and G7 averages. My priorities include: - Plan all neighbourhoods to support rapid transit with a density of at least 70 people and jobs per hectare. Require a mix of different land uses to provide opportunities for living, working, appointments, and entertainment within a walkable distance. - Enhance the City’s existing suite of incentives for affordable housing by tying certain benefits to participation in federal programs such as the CMHC’s Affordable Housing Fund. - Encourage new infill development that increases the range of available unit sizes or accessibility standards in a neighbourhood, so neighbours can find adequate housing at every stage of life without leaving their communities. This includes building on the success of our accessory dwelling unit (ADU) program and continuing to make it easier to build ADUs. Reduce the cost of housing by eliminating parking minimums and allow shared parking agreements to reduce the need for overbuilt parking infrastructure. - Incorporate affordable housing into all city building projects, such as libraries, fire halls, and community centres. Combine funding sources from housing and non-housing projects to reduce duplication and share land costs. Retain ownership of public land and use a land lease model that doesn’t sell off our long-term public assets. Give first right of refusal for surplus public land to non-profit affordable housing providers, co-op housing, Indigenous housing organizations, and community land trusts. - Delegate approval authority for certain zoning by-law amendments to Planning staff (such as adjustments to parking and setbacks), in order to depoliticize the process of building new housing. At the same time, pair new growth with new public space investment. When infill development is being built, allow for participatory decision-making by neighbours to guide street redesign, landscaping, amenities, and traffic calming investments associated with new development. - Explore targeted policies for Downtown Kitchener to reverse the decline in children and young families, including new childcare facilities and 3+ bedroom homes. This could include facilitating office-to-residential conversions.”
(a few sentences)
Source: TriTAG 2026 Election Questionnaire - Kitchener Ward 10 responses · September 29, 2026
Confidence:High
Nabi would add non-profit affordable housing on top of planned city buildings like libraries, fire halls and community centres.
- Kitchener Ward 10 candidate Sam Nabi answered CBC K-W's Oct 20 candidate survey with three top issues: affordable/safe homes, accessible public spaces, ambitious climate action.
- On housing, he says the city can play a big role by stacking non-profit affordable housing on top of planned city building projects.
- No Nabi rows exist in the Oct-17 baseline or either Oct-20 import file — first rows for this candidate.
“adding non-profit affordable housing on top of planned city building projects, such as libraries, fire halls and community centres”
(a few sentences)
Source: CBC Kitchener-Waterloo candidate survey: Kitchener top issues · October 20, 2026
Confidence:High