Municipalities in the Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH) are forecasting housing needs by type of dwelling as part of their work programs for municipal comprehensive reviews and official plan updates. They are using a demographic approach that incorporates expected population growth, age structure, and household-forming propensities.

There is a need for significant new housing above demographic needs if the affordability of housing is to be improved, according to the recent final report of the Canada/B.C. Expert Panel on the Future of Housing Supply and Affordability. Housing needs should incorporate an "affordability adjustment" to account for past undersupply of new housing, especially ground-related homes, as well as adjustments for demolitions and vacancies.

Applying the Expert Panel's approach to the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) increases the quantity of new housing needed over 2021-2031 from an average of 50,400 units per year forecast by Hemson Consulting in 2020 to an estimated 79,300 units per year. 

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