Statistics Canada figures from a quality of life index released last month showed Wellington North to have the highest rate of poverty in Wellington County at 7.3 per cent. The lowest county number was Puslinch at 2.8 per cent. Centre Wellington clocked in at 3.4.

According to the stats, in Wellington North, 26.3 per cent of residents live in what is not considered acceptable housing.

Mayor of Wellington North Andy Lennox says the issue spans beyond just the township. Lennox is also Warden of Wellington County. He added there is more available housing, it's just not priced in everyone's range.

"With more housing built, the housing form is changing into more affordable forms, but the demand is outstripping the supply," Lennox said.

"That's what's driving the costs up and it's out of reach for many of our young people. We need all hands on deck to try to address that not only in Wellington North but across Wellington County," he added.

Lennox went on to say the township won't be able to go at it alone. He hopes for assistance from both the provincial and federal levels, too.

The community growth plan,  Lennox says, has been productive since its inception six years ago.

"It's been a very useful tool for us in helping us to encourage more rental housing and more housing of different styles than the traditional single-family-detached, because as the value of housing has gone up, the housing that young people can access has become more inaccessible in the traditional form," Lennox stated.

"So, more apartments, more townhomes, more duplexes; those types of things," he concluded.

Lennox added the township is hoping to refresh the plan with new tools soon.

Listen to the CICW story below: