New white paper outlines 11 recommendations to improve housing attainability, strengthen workforce retention, and support Brampton’s long-term competitiveness.
The Brampton Board of Trade (BBOT) today released Making Brampton Work: An Action Agenda for Workforce Housing, a comprehensive white paper examining the growing relationship between housing affordability, workforce availability, and Brampton’s economic competitiveness.
The report makes the case that housing is essential economic infrastructure, warning that without coordinated action, today’s housing challenges risk becoming tomorrow’s labour shortages.
Drawing on extensive research and stakeholder consultations conducted throughout the spring and summer of 2026, the paper identifies barriers to housing attainability and presents 11 actionable recommendations aimed at ensuring Brampton’s workforce can afford to live in the community it helps build.
“Housing affordability is no longer simply a social issue or a planning challenge. It is a fundamental economic competitiveness issue,” said Jaipaul Massey-Singh, CEO of the Brampton Board of Trade. “Our employers need access to skilled workers, and those workers need access to housing that meets their needs and allows them to build their futures here. If we fail to connect those two priorities, we risk undermining the very economic growth we’re working so hard to attract.”
A Growing City Facing Unique Housing Challenges
With Brampton’s population projected to increase by approximately 23 per cent over the next 25 years, the report highlights the urgency of aligning housing development with the needs of a rapidly growing and diverse workforce.
Among its key findings:
- Three in five Brampton residents report that housing costs have led them to consider leaving the city within five years
- 25.9 per cent of Brampton households have five or more members, nearly three times the proportion in neighbouring Mississauga
- 63 per cent of international students in Brampton live in unsuitable housing, according to Statistics Canada data cited in the report
- Brampton’s housing needs are shaped by its unique demographics and employment sectors, including advanced manufacturing, logistics, health care, skilled trades, and entrepreneurship
The report argues that simply increasing housing supply is insufficient. Brampton must prioritize the right types of housing in the right locations, including purpose-built rentals, family-sized apartments, missing-middle housing, and options suited to multigenerational households.
An 11-Point Action Agenda
The white paper proposes a coordinated approach involving all levels of government, employers, developers, and community organizations.
Among its recommendations are:
- Establishing an Attainable Housing Partnership Office to coordinate stakeholders, identify opportunities, and accelerate the delivery of workforce housing
- Creating a Workforce Housing Advantage that provides qualifying developments with coordinated incentives, planning flexibility, and expedited approvals
- Expanding federal and provincial funding to support new construction, redevelopment, and the conversion of existing properties into attainable housing
- Leveraging publicly owned land to reduce development costs and unlock new housing opportunities
- Protecting employment lands while connecting housing to jobs, ensuring that residential growth supports Brampton’s industrial and commercial economy
- Prioritizing housing near transit and existing infrastructure to improve access to employment, services, and community amenities
The report also explores innovative housing models, including co-operative housing, community land trusts, mixed-use development, and non-profit affordable homeownership.
Building on Progress Through Collaboration
The white paper acknowledges the significant progress already underway through the City of Brampton’s planning modernization and housing initiatives, while identifying opportunities to build on those efforts through stronger coordination, targeted investment, and innovative partnerships.
The initiative reflects BBOT’s ongoing commitment to advancing evidence-based policy discussions and bringing together diverse perspectives on the issues shaping Brampton’s economic future.
The Board of Trade extends its appreciation to the City of Brampton, participating stakeholders, and the sponsors and partners whose contributions and support made the project possible.
BBOT intends to use the report as a foundation for continued dialogue and collaboration, working alongside government, employers, housing providers, and community leaders to advance solutions that support Brampton’s long-term prosperity.
