Population and Housing Projections Study Suggests Significant Changes in the Coming Years

by Bob Montgomery

Watson & Associates Economists presented a Population and Housing Projections Study to Huron County council at their last meeting that indicated a significant demographic shift is coming.

Huron County Planning Manager Denise Van Amersfoort says their report suggested that between 2021 and 2041 we're going to see a doubling of the population that is 75 and older. Some thought will have to be given to what that population needs in terms of supported living, more apartment buildings that are better suited from an accessibility perspective, long term care but also things like recreational services that would be geared towards that age group. Van Amersfoort says that shift is already underway and we'll see more of it in the coming years.

She believes the growth in the senior population is likely a combination of people retiring and moving from urban centres to Huron County, and our existing population getting older. She also points out that between 2016 and 2021 Huron County's population grew by 1.1 percent, which is unprecedented, and in fact up until 2016 Huron County's population had been declining. So now, with the population increasing and aging, it's important to consider what services will be needed.

Van Amersfoort says having the information they do allows them to be proactive, particularly when it comes to housing. “I think it's really important that we think about different types of housing in Huron County when we think about senior populations or even single people who are coming to the community and looking for a place to rent. We want to have a wide range of options available and the shift of the county has certainly been moving towards denser forms and people will start to see that in their community.”

It's projected that between 2021 and 2051 Huron County is going to need 10,700 more housing units. Van Amersfoort says in recent years they've seen a strong uptick in the number of building permits being issued in local municipalities, so that's encouraging, but it's important to remember they need the houses to retain the work force but they need the work force to build the houses.