About the National Housing Strategy
Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada (HICC) is now responsible for reporting on National Housing Strategy (NHS) progress. As a result, NHS information can now be found here.
The current National Housing Strategy website, managed by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, will be decommissioned in early 2025.
The National Housing Strategy is Canada's commitment to ensure more people living in Canada have access to safe, affordable and inclusive housing.
The National Housing Strategy is currently a 10-year, $115+ billion plan to give more people in Canada a place to call home. Launched in 2017, the Strategy includes a range of complementary programs and initiatives that address diverse needs across the entire housing continuum. It's anchored in the National Housing Strategy Act which requires the Strategy to consider the key principles of a human rights-based approach to housing.
National Housing Strategy $115+ billion funding breakdown
Contributions - $42B
Loans - $65B
Province and territory cost-matching - $7.5B
The Strategy aims to achieve
580,000
households whose housing need is reduced or eliminated
240,000
new housing units created
300,000
homes to be renewed and repaired
385,000
community housing units protected and expanded by 50,000
300,000
households provided with affordability support through the Canada Housing Benefit
25%
of funding toward meeting the housing needs of women and their children
Addressing housing needs through complementary programs and initiatives
$76.9B
New construction / repair or renewal of housing supply
$15.4B
Initiatives delivered with provinces and territories
$11.17B
Existing community housing programs
$4.1B
Reducing chronic homelessness
$4.4B
System changes to increase housing supply
$1.892B
Support for the community housing sector
$1.3B
Improved homeownership options
$1.2B
One-time direct support payments to lower income renters
$550M
Data, innovation and research
$63.7M
Human rights-based approach to housing
-
Explore more of the Strategy's key initiatives
The National Housing Strategy represents the Government's commitment to providing more people living in Canada with access to safe, affordable and inclusive housing. This commitment is reflected through a range of targeted initiatives aimed at ensuring a better housing situation for all.
The Strategy's programs and initiatives are administered by different players including the federal, provincial and territorial governments as well as the community housing sector.
New construction and repair or renewal of housing supply
A total of $76.9 billion in funding commitment for the following programs:
Shelter and Transitional Housing
These initiatives aim to improve access to stable shelter for priority populations. The Strategy focuses on safe and dignified housing options under programs like:
Create New Below-Market Housing Supply
The Strategy promotes the development of new below-market housing units across Canada through initiatives like the:
- Affordable Housing Fund
- Affordable Housing Innovation Fund
- Federal Lands Initiative
- Rapid Housing Initiative
- Co-operative Housing Development Program
Renew or Repair of Existing Below-Market Housing Supply
To support the renewal and repair of existing housing stock, the Strategy allocates resources through the Affordable Housing Fund.
Create Purpose-Built Rental Supply
Through the Apartment Construction Loan Program, the Strategy encourages the creation of purpose-built rental properties to meet the growing demand for rental housing.
Initiatives Delivered with Provinces and Territories
With a funding commitment of $15.7 billion, this initiative aims to support provincial and territorial priorities. These programs include:
- Provincial/Territorial Priority Funding
- Canada Community Housing Initiative
- Canada Housing Benefit
- Northern Funding.
Visit CMHC's Federal/Provincial/Territorial housing agreements page to learn more.
Existing Community Housing Programs
With $11.17 billion allocated, this initiative focuses on fulfilling long-term commitments for existing social and community housing on and off-reserve. It ensures ongoing support for populations in housing need.
Reduce Chronic Homelessness
A $4.1 billion allocation for:
- Reaching Home (Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada) - This program aims to reduce chronic homelessness by 50% by 2027-2028
- Veterans Homelessness Program (Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada and Veterans Affairs Canada)
These programs seek to make meaningful strides in reducing chronic homelessness in Canada. The Strategy aims to achieve this by creating supportive environments and providing essential services to those in need.
System Changes to Increase Supply
A dedicated $4.4 billion is allocated to the Housing Accelerator Fund to implement system changes that promote housing supply and accessibility, aiming to improve affordability for everyone living in Canada.
Improving Homeownership Options
$1.3 billion dedicated to programs like the:
These programs aim to help make homeownership a reality for first-time homebuyers.
One-Time Direct Support Payments
With $1.2 billion dedicated to one-time top-ups for the Canada Housing Benefit (CMHC and Canada Revenue Agency), this initiative aimed to support low-income renters facing housing affordability challenges. The program closed on March 31, 2023.
Support for Community Housing Sector
A funding commitment of $692 million to support the community housing sector via the:
- Federal Community Housing Initiative
- Community Housing Transformation Centre
- Community-Based Tenant Initiative
These initiatives empower local communities and organizations to provide effective housing solutions.
Data, Innovation and Research
The Strategy dedicates $550 million to innovative programs like:
- NHS Demonstrations Initiative
- Solutions Labs
- Collaborative Housing Research Network
- Research and Planning Fund
- CMHC Housing Research Awards
- Housing Needs Data
- Expert Community on Housing,
- Housing Supply Challenge
- Longitudinal Outcomes Research Grant.
These initiatives close important data gaps, empower evidence-based decision-making and drives research for more effective housing interventions.
Human Rights-Based Approach to Housing
With a $63.7 million budget, this funding supports the establishment of the:
These initiatives prioritize a human rights-based approach to housing to ensure non-discrimination, inclusion, participation and accountability in housing solutions.
Everyone needs to be part of the solution
The National Housing Strategy was created as a direct result of extensive consultations.
The National Housing Strategy brings together federal departments, provinces, territories, non-profit sectors, Indigenous partners and private organizations.
Priority areas for action
The National Housing Strategy envisions affordable housing for all Canadians, promoting sustainable communities and a thriving economy. It emphasizes 6 priority areas for action.
- housing for those in greatest need
- community housing sustainability
- Indigenous housing
- northern housing
- sustainable housing and communities
- balanced supply of housing
Priority populations
The National Housing Strategy places significant emphasis on addressing the housing needs of populations with unique needs. These groups include:
- survivors of gender-based violence
- seniors
- Indigenous Peoples
- young adults
- people with disabilities
- individuals dealing with mental health and addiction issues
- veterans
- 2SLGBTQIA+ communities
- racialized groups, including Black Canadians
- recent immigrants, including refugees
- people experiencing homelessness
Shared outcomes
The National Housing Strategy has 11 shared outcomes:
- Homelessness is reduced year over year.
- Housing is affordable and in good condition.
- Affordable housing promotes social and economic inclusion for individuals and families.
- Housing outcomes in Canada's territories are improved year over year.
- The housing needs of Indigenous groups are identified and improved.
- Affordable housing contributes to environmental sustainability.
- The National Housing Strategy contributes to Canadian economic growth.
- Partnerships are built, strengthened and mobilized to achieve better outcomes.
- Collaboration/alignment across the federal government results in more holistic responses to housing issues.
- Expertise and capacity are enhanced in the housing sector.
- Canadians have knowledge of their housing rights.
Addressing Indigenous and Northern priorities
Meeting the housing needs of Indigenous and northern communities is a priority under the National Housing Strategy. Projects that focus on Indigenous peoples and families and northern housing are given priority through many of the Strategy's programs and initiatives.
National Housing Strategy funding dedicated to Indigenous and northern housing
- $420M through the Indigenous Shelter and Transitional Housing Initiative
- $138.1M through the Affordable Housing Fund (formerly called the National Housing Co-Investment Fund)
- $200M through the Canada Community Housing Initiative
- $300M through funding for northern territories
- $896M through Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy
Related National Housing Strategy resources
- Canada's National Housing Strategy (PDF) (3.38 MB)
- Building Momentum: Moving Canada's Housing Commitments Forward - 2023 NHS Progress Report (PDF) (3.74 MB)
- Building the Future Together: 2020 NHS Progress Report (PDF) (9.39 MB)
- National Housing Strategy Project Profiles
- Consulting with Canadians
- Investing in Canada Plan
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