Most municipal elections are decided by familiar issues: property taxes, roads, transit and parks. Residents judge whether their neighbourhood is clean, whether snow gets cleared and whether City Hall is spending their money wisely.
This year feels different. Housing has become the issue through which many people are judging everything else. That shift is reflected in new polling conducted by Abacus Data for the Cornerstone Association of REALTORS®. The findings reveal that the public still cares deeply about their communities but is becoming less certain about where those communities are headed.
When residents were asked to identify the biggest issues facing their municipality, the cost of living ranked first, followed closely by housing. More than simply another policy issue, housing has become a measure of whether people believe their community is moving in the right direction. More than eight in ten residents say housing will influence how they vote this fall, making it one of the defining issues of the election. That concern is even stronger among younger and lower-income voters, while nearly six in ten residents believe it is time for change in their municipality. Mayoral and Councillor candidates who present a credible plan to improve housing affordability and restore confidence that future generations can build a life in Hamilton will have a clear advantage at the ballot box.
The numbers become even more striking when people talk about homeownership. Among those who do not already own a home, three-quarters still hope to buy one. Young adults remain especially determined, with almost nine in ten saying they want to become homeowners someday. The dream is still alive, but confidence is not. Only about half believe they will actually get there, while one in five has stopped believing homeownership is possible altogether.
For generations, owning a home represented more than a financial milestone. It meant putting down roots, building equity, raising a family and believing that hard work opened doors. When people begin to doubt that future, confidence gives way to uncertainty.
That uncertainty extends far beyond the housing market. More than half of respondents worry about paying their housing costs. Many say housing affects their mental health and overall quality of life. Families delay major life decisions, young people question whether they can remain in the communities where they grew up, and parents worry their children will have fewer opportunities than they did.
In the past, housing concerns were often focused on forces beyond the control of local governments, such as interest rates, inflation and population growth. But residents are realizing this is only part of the story.
Housing affordability is also shaped by municipal decisions. It is reflected in where new homes can be built, how long approvals take, whether infrastructure keeps pace with growth and whether zoning allows a wider range of housing choices. Every additional requirement, delay or layer of regulation carries a cost, and ultimately those costs are reflected in the price paid by the homeowner or renter.
Municipal governments cannot control mortgage rates or the global economy, but they can control many of the local decisions that determine how quickly homes are approved and neighbourhoods grow. Planning, permitting, infrastructure, servicing and zoning all fall squarely within municipal influence. Real progress will require municipalities to work with their provincial and federal partners while modernizing planning and approval systems that no longer keep pace with today’s housing needs.
The polling shows broad support for practical steps that improve affordability. There is strong backing for reducing development charges if doing so lowers the cost of new homes. Voters are looking for solutions that make housing more attainable without creating unnecessary uncertainty.
With more than eight in ten respondents saying housing will influence how they vote in this municipal election, those seeking office should pay close attention. Housing should be at the forefront of every debate, all-candidates meeting and campaign doorstep.
Municipal elections are ultimately about confidence. This fall, the candidates who earn that confidence will be the ones who understand that housing is more than another campaign issue. For many residents, it has become the clearest measure of whether Hamilton still offers a future worth believing in.
