Build Canada Homes frequently asked questions

What makes Build Canada Homes different is how it works:

1. Unlocking multi-year pipelines of projects through the portfolio approach,
2. Leveraging modern methods of construction such as factory-built housing, and
3. Building on public lands to deliver more affordable homes faster. 

By combining flexible financing, access to land, and development expertise under one roof, Build Canada Homes will make it simpler and faster to get big projects off the ground.  Introducing early federal financing will decrease project risk and incentivize private investment.

Build Canada Homes will act as a one-stop-shop for proponents at every phase of the development process, working in close partnership with developers, investors, manufacturers, other orders of government and Indigenous partners to get housing financed and built.

Indigenous communities face significant affordable housing needs. Build Canada Homes will work with Indigenous partners to drive, long-term affordable housing solutions that respect Indigenous leadership and knowledge and complement other federal and Indigenous-led housing investments, including on- and off-reserve Indigenous housing programs and distinctions-based housing strategies.

Implementation of Build Canada Homes will respect the Government of Canada's constitutional and policy commitments to upholding the honour of the Crown, rights recognition, and furthering relationships with Indigenous peoples.  It will leverage opportunities to advance reconciliation and build in Duty to Consult and other requirements as appropriate, such as section 82 of the Impact Assessment Act, which includes an assessment of effects to the health and socio-economic impacts to Indigenous peoples. Ongoing engagement with Indigenous partners will help inform the evolving design of Build Canada Homes and its approach to advancing Indigenous housing.

By increasing the availability of affordable and deeply affordable housing, Build Canada Homes will help create more options to help people exit homelessness, and prevent them from experiencing homelessness in the first place.

In particular, Build Canada Homes will deploy $1 billion to build transitional and supportive housing. It will collaborate with key provincial, territorial, municipal, and Indigenous partners to pair these federal investments with employment and health care supports.

HICC has undertaken broad engagement and gathered insights from over 100 interested partners and stakeholders including but not limited to:

• Project proponents
• Private and community housing providers
• Developers and manufacturers leveraging modern methods of construction such as factory-built housing
• Provincial, territorial and municipal governments
• Indigenous governments and partners
• Financial institutions
• Academics and research organizations
• Institutional investors and other sources of private capital

A market sounding was also recently conducted via the HICC website and over 600 submissions were received. Engagement activities will continue, and feedback taken onboard to inform the design and implementation of Build Canada Homes.

Ensuring Build Canada Homes invests in housing that is owned and operated by non-market housing providers is key for ensuring homes are affordable for the long term. These mission driven organizations will do all they can to deliver affordability for their tenants. 

Keeping public land under public ownership by leasing rather than selling is also a key measure that can help ensure long-term affordability, by ensuring the land continues to be used for a public purpose.

Additionally, Build Canada Homes will partner with the private sector on mixed-market housing projects that prioritize affordable housing. This approach is essential to making projects financially viable over the long term, while ensuring that affordable homes remain truly affordable. By blending market and non-market housing, Build Canada Homes can unlock new sources of capital, reduce reliance on public subsidies, and create inclusive communities that are built to last.

Smaller organizations will be encouraged to team up to create larger project portfolios, and provinces and territories will play a key role in bringing together projects from across their jurisdictions, including rural and remote areas.

Build Canada Homes' Investment policy, which will provide details on the types of projects and strategies Build Canada homes will fund, will ensure these communities are well served by the Build Canada Homes model.

Build Canada Homes will have targeted engagements with provinces and territories, Indigenous governing organizations and high-capacity, non-market housing providers to identify early investment opportunities and shovel-ready projects.

In the coming weeks, Build Canada Homes will release its first investment framework that details the types of investments it will prioritize, and form the basis for project intakes and funding decisions. The framework will build on the market sounding guide that was released in August and garnered more than 600 responses.

Proponents are encouraged to start thinking about how large-scale projects in their portfolio could align with early investment opportunities under Build Canada Homes. In the interim while investment details are being finalized, questions can be sent to BCHInquiries-DemandesMC@infc.gc.ca.