Why do we need the Parry Sound-Muskoka Community Fund?
The Parry Sound-Muskoka region in the heart of the Canadian Shield is widely known for its natural beauty. The region is a lush, forested landscape of hills and valleys marked by hundreds of freshwater lakes and massive outcroppings of ancient granite. A stunning palette carved by the receding ice of the last ice age. This region plays host to thousands of tourists who visit for brief stays – generally in the summer and the colourful fall season but increasingly in the winter months as well.
There are also thousands of seasonal residents whose lakeside retreats from their city homes populate the shorelines of the lakes, rivers and islands. Many of these residents are multi-generational families whose roots in the region reach back to the early days of settlement. This group comprises roughly half of our population and are a significant contributor to the economy.
The permanent year-round population is made up of hard-working people with high rates of seasonal and part time employment in the construction, retail and other service-related industries. Unfortunately, the income gap between the seasonal and year-round resident is significant.
According to the District of Muskoka’s Second Home Study, nearly 77% of second home households in Muskoka earn over $100,000 per year. In contrast, only 28% of year-round households report the same income level. Census data shows that about one in four permanent households in Muskoka earn less than $50,000 per year, and the median employment income is roughly 16% lower than that of Ontario.
While no direct data exists on household incomes specifically for second‑home or seasonal residents in the District of Parry Sound as there are for Muskoka, the 2021 Census reports the average income in the district was $38,000 in 2020. This gap highlights the substantial economic disparity of the region, and often overlooked or unmet needs within our communities.
In the Parry Sound – Muskoka District:
● Homelessness is on the rise and now there are tent encampments in multiple sites
around the districts.
● Muskoka District Council declared homelessness as an emergency in March 2023
based on an increase of over 600% in the number of shelter nights between 2019
and 2022.
● Home prices not on the waterfront spiked more than 64% between 2016 and 2023.
● Rental vacancy rates have been under 1% for a decade driving up rental costs
and forcing many residents to live in substandard conditions. This shortage
disproportionately impacts low-income individuals, seniors, and families,
with children.
● Food insecurity is an increasing reality for too many. Today, there are more than
20 food banks and food programs not only in the larger centres of Bracebridge,
Gravenhurst, Huntsville and Parry Sound, but also in communities as small as
Burk’s Falls, Sundridge, South River, Britt, Argyle, MacTier, Port Severn, Port Carling,
Baysville, Dorset, and Dwight.
● In the District of Parry Sound, over 400 households are currently on the community
housing waitlist, with wait times reaching up to 16 years for single individuals in the
Town of Parry Sound. In the District of Muskoka, over 680 households are currently
on centralized waitlists for community, affordable, and transitional housing with
wait times of more than 5 years for certain housing units.
● Situated in Parry Sound, Esprit Place Family Resource Centre is the only Violence
Against Women (VAW) shelter serving the Highway 400/69 corridor from Barrie to
Sudbury. This Highway 400/69 corridor in Ontario is considered a high-risk area for
human trafficking. Law enforcement agencies have identified this region as a
significant route for traffickers due to its connectivity between urban centers like
Toronto and northern communities.
● The pandemic and ongoing economic challenges have directly contributed to a
notable increase in Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). More than 4 in 10 women have
experienced some form of IPV in their lifetime, and for girls and young women in
the north, the rate of violent crime is four times higher than occurs in Canada’s
general population.
● The "By-Name List" is a real-time, individualized roster of people currently
experiencing challenges such as homelessness or other vulnerabilities. It helps
local agencies coordinate support and services more effectively by knowing
exactly who needs assistance. Currently, the District of Parry Sound has 89 people
on their By-Name List, while the District of Muskoka reports 92 households.
● Many residents depend on Ontario Works (OW) or Ontario Disability Support
Program (ODSP) benefits, which fall short of covering rising living expenses. In the
District of Parry Sound, the Ontario Works caseload sits at 627, while in the District
of Muskoka, the caseload is 555. Those receiving assistance through this program
receive as low as $733 monthly to cover essentials such as food, clothing, housing,
utilities, transportation, and medical expenses.
All the people of the Parry Sound - Muskoka region make up a vibrant community, but there are too many people struggling with the basics of adequate housing and food. There are many organizations in the region assisting, but they need our help.
The Parry Sound-Muskoka Community Fund will enable the Muskoka Community Foundation to increase their capacity to address pressing issues like hunger, unemployment and housing. They work to connect donors to those in need and to build an endowment that will perpetuate this work into the future.
Member of Parliament Scott Aitchison is leading the charge to establish this fund and to assist the widest range of organizations and initiatives throughout the region. The ‘Scotty’ Charity Golf Tournament will be the signature event of the season used to raise money for the Fund.
Together we will fill the gaps, lift up those in need and ensure all the people of our communities can thrive.