Affordable Housing Fund (AHF)

May 2, 2018

$14.6 billion over 11 years from 2018/19 to 2028/29

Create 60,000 new housing units and repair or renew 170,000 housing units

CMHC has committed $9.40 billion to support the creation of 37,033 new units (23,729 under 80% median market rent) and the repair/renewal of 165,828 units (130,571 under 80% median market rent).

Of the $9.40 billion, $5.68 billion are loans and $3.72 billion are contributions/forgivable loans.

Based on data collected at the time of application, the average monthly rent of new units that are under 80% median market rent is expected to be $706. The average rent would be affordable to households with a before-tax income of $28,240 per year.

Similarly, the average rent of repaired units that are under 80% median market rent is expected to be $817. The average rent would be affordable to households with a before-tax income of $32,686 per year.

New Units

Of the 37,033 new units, 6,543 units are conditional commitments, 30,490 units are financial commitments, including 14,243 units that are under construction and 16,247 units that are built. This includes commitments to make 1,476 shelter spaces or transitional housing units available for survivors of gender-based violence, 8,379 housing units for seniors, and 890 units for people with developmental disabilities.

CMHC has committed funding to support the creation of a total of 6,372 accessible units and the creation of 164 projects with full universal design. The average percentage of units per project that are accessible is 25.5% for all new construction projects.

Repair/Renewal Units

Of the 165,828 repair units, 4,748 units are conditional commitments, 161,080 units are financial commitments, including 113,599 units that are under construction and 47,481 units that are repaired/renewed. This includes commitments to repair/renew 340 shelter spaces or transitional housing units for survivors of gender-based violence, and 41,331 senior units.

Apartment Construction Loan Program (ACLP)

April 20, 2017

$54.9 billion over 15 years from 2017/18 to 2031/32

Construction of more than 131,000 new rental housing units across Canada.

CMHC has committed $19.23 billion in loans to support the creation of 51,019 units.

Of the 51,019 units, 13,795 are conditional commitments, 1,512 are financial commitments, 23,029 units are currently under construction, and 12,683 units are built.

As of June 30, 2024, ACLP has committed funding to support the creation of a total of 8,960 accessible units. The average percentage of units per projects that are accessible is 27% for all new construction projects.

Based on data collected at the time of application, the average monthly rent of new units that are affordable to median-income families is expected to be $1,452. The average rent would be affordable to households with a before-tax income of $58,074 per year.

Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI)

October 27, 2020

$4 billion over 4 years 2020/21 to 2023/24

Create over 12,000 affordable housing units

CMHC has committed $3.83 billion to support the creation of 15,896 new affordable units, of which 6,568 units are built, 7,659 are currently under construction and 1,669 units are financially committed.

Of the total units committed, 6,242 units are for Indigenous peoples, 3,568 units are for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and 2,247 units are for seniors.

Affordable Housing Innovation Fund (AHIF)

September 30, 2016 (Phase 1)

$208.3 million over 5 years from 2016/17 to 2020/21

4,000 below-market housing units created using innovative business approaches and building techniques.

Phase 1: $205.27 million committed to support the creation of 18,220 units, of which 15,512 will meet the program affordability criteria.

Of the total units committed, 13,705 units are financial commitments and 4,515 units are currently under construction or built.

August 30, 2022 (Phase 2)

$407.2 million over 6 years from 2022/23 to 2027/28

At least 10,800 housing units created.

Phase 2: $219.2 million committed to support the creation of 10,908 units, of which 5,407 will meet the program affordability criteria.

Federal Lands Initiative (FLI)

February 11, 2019

$318.9 million over 10 years from 2018/19 to 2027/28

Create 5,500 housing units by transferring surplus federal lands and buildings to housing providers at low or no cost.

CMHC has committed $120.44 million to support the creation of 3,702 new units (1,551 under 80% median market rent) and the repair/renewal of 244 units (146 under 80% median market rent).^{Endnote 2}

Of the 3,702 new units, 797 units are conditional commitments and 2,905 units are under development and/or built.

Of the 244 repair/renewal units, all 244 are under development and/or built.

CMHC has committed funding to support the creation or repair of a total of 970 accessible units and the creation or repair of 5 projects with full universal design. The average percentage of units per project that are accessible is 26% for all projects.

Co-operative Housing Development Program

June 6, 2024

$1.5 billion over 7 years from 2024/25 to 2030/31

Create up to 3,200 new co-operative housing units.

The Co-operative Housing Development Program was launched on June 6, 2024. The first application window opened July 15 and closes September 15, 2024.

Funding ($M)

n/a

$57

$28

$9

$62

$3

$205

New Units/Beds

n/a

4,661

4,398

431

2,946

8

18,220

New Unit Funding ($M)

$5

$29

$137

$20

n/a

$8

$199

New Units/Beds

100

1,304

7,700

347

n/a

101

9,552

Repair Funding ($M)

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

$21

Repair Units/Beds

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

1,356

New Unit Funding ($M)

$4

n/a

$47

$10

$48

n/a

$108

New Units/Beds

115

n/a

2,166

463

958

n/a

3,702

Repair Funding ($M)

$7

$1

$1

n/a

n/a

$3

$12

Repair Units/Beds

184

12

12

n/a

n/a

36

244

New Unit Funding ($M)

$379

$498

$2,513

$981

$1,841

$303

$6,576

New Units/Beds

2,276

4,918

11,879

5,311

10,737

996

37,033

Repair Funding ($M)

$68

$143

$2,241

$198

$147

$28

$2,826

Repair Units/Beds

5,015

9,461

125,289

14,027

11,155

881

165,828

Funding ($M)

$209

$882

$1,365

$642

$555

$179

$3,831

New Units/Beds

1,196

4,997

4,259

3,027

1,780

637

15,896

Funding ($M)

$718

$3,269

$8,443

$550

$6,224

$22

$19,226

Units/Beds

2,255

10,036

22,078

2,320

14,243

87

51,019

Federal Community Housing Initiative (FCHI)

April 1, 2018 (Phase I)

$38 million over 2 years from 2017/18 to 2019/20

Funding for community housing providers to support 55,000 community housing units.

Support of 13,700 low-income units, with operating agreements under federal administration through CMHC.

Over $42 million in rent assistance was provided to 25,706 community housing units during Phase 1 of the program which sunset in 2019-20.

Since 2020-21, through Phase 2, $136.82 million in rent assistance was provided to 9,921 low-income units with operating agreements which supports the continued availability of 43,758 community housing units.

Overall, 47,994 community housing units have been supported through phases 1 and 2.

September 1, 2020 (Phase II)

$580.2 million over 8 years from 2020/21 to 2027/28

Community Housing Transformation Centre (CHTC) and Sector Transformation Fund (STF)

April 11, 2019 (CHTC)

December 2019 (STF)

$64.2 million over 10 years from 2018/19 to 2027/28

Increase knowledge and technical capacity of the community housing sector to support effective and sustainable business models while continuing to provide affordable housing.

Funding and tools for housing providers to support efficient and effective business models.

Established in June 2019, CHTC is a non-profit organization led by an Executive Director and a Board of Directors.

CHTC delivers the Sector Transformation Fund.

$31.9 million has been provided to the CHTC to set up operations, cover operating and program-eligible costs, and provide funding to 291 STF projects. Project areas of impact include the Environment, Indigenous, Local Projects, Sector Growth, Sectoral Impact, Social Inclusion and Sustainable Business. Many examples can be found on the CHTC website.

Community Based Tenant Initiative (CBTI)

December 2019

$10 million over 4 years from 2019/20 to 2022/23

Funding for local organizations that assist people in housing need to enable participation in housing decision-making.

$10.0 million to support 188 CBTI applications

One-time top-up to the Canada Housing Benefit

December 12, 2022

$1.2 billion over 1 year in 2022/23

Assist up to 1.8 million eligible households.

$402.37 million to support 815,190 applications

Reaching Home^{Endnote 4}

April 1, 2019

$4 billion over 9 years

Reduce chronic homelessness nationally by 50% by March 2028.

Reaching Home is a community-based program that helps prevent and reduce homelessness across Canada. This program is investing $4 billion in funding over 9 years to reduce chronic homelessness nationally by 50% between 2016 and 2028.

• +17% change in chronic homelessness among shelter users (between 2016 and 2022)
• Overall results for Reaching Home (includes Designated Communities, Indigenous Homelessness, Rural and Remote Homelessness, and Territorial Homelessness streams):
• 79,004 people placed in more stable housing under Reaching Home (cumulative for 2019-20 to 2023-24)^{Endnote 5}
• 138,744 people received core prevention services under Reaching Home (cumulative for 2019-20 to 2023-24)^{Endnote 5}

As part of the overall investment, Reaching Home is investing approximately $900 million in funding over 9 years through the Indigenous Homelessness stream and through Distinctions-based Approaches.

Specifically for Reaching Home's Indigenous Homelessness Funding Stream^{Endnote 5}, ⁶

• 14,121 people placed into more stable housing.
• 15,802 people who benefited from core prevention services.

The overall investments also include approximately $70 million in funding over 9 years through the Territorial Homelessness stream.

Specifically for Reaching Home's Territorial Homelessness Funding Stream:

• 390 people placed into more stable housing.
• 2,069 people who benefited from core prevention services.

Veterans Homelessness Program^{Endnote 4}

Spring 2023

$79.1 million over 5 years

To be set in 2024/25

The Veteran Homelessness Program, which is part of the NHS, launched in spring 2023. Successful applicants from a national call for proposals have all been informed and contribution agreements are being put in place. Once concluded, service providers will start offering services.

Shared Equity Mortgage Providers (SEMP) Fund

July 31, 2019

$100 million over 5 years from 2019/20 to 2023/24

Assist 1,500 first-time homebuyers and assist in the creation of 1,500 new homeownership units

$38.25 million committed to assist in the creation of 1,377 new homeownership units. The program sunset in 2023/24.

First-Time Home Buyer Incentive (FTHBI)

September 2, 2019

$1.25 billion over 5 years from 2019/20 to 2023/24

Assist up to 100,000 first-time homebuyers

25,668 applications approved, representing $464.48 million in Shared Equity Mortgages. The program sunset in 2023/24.

Approved Applications (#)

8,997

2,613

989

1,567

3,866

7,636

Funded Applications (#)

8,897

2,584

980

1,553

3,801

7,485

Approved Shared
Equity Mortgages ($)

$183,344,782

$36,274,100

$21,084,096

$30,037,922

$62,818,174

$130,917,855

Funded Shared
Equity Mortgages ($)

$180,684,223

$35,592,327

$20,907,286

$29,645,687

$60,981,167

$128,625,972

National Housing Strategy Act

N/A

The Act recognizes the right to adequate housing as a fundamental human right affirmed in international law. The Act requires the federal government to maintain a national housing strategy to further housing policy, taking into account key principles of a human rights-based approach to housing, and report to Parliament every three years on the progress towards the strategy's goals and outcomes.

Tabled in Parliament on April 8, 2019, as part of Bill C-97, and received Royal Assent on June 21, 2019. The National Housing Strategy Act came into force on July 9, 2019.

National Housing Council

November 22, 2020

The Council, with diverse representation, will further housing policy by providing advice to the responsible Minister on, among other things, the effectiveness of the National Housing Strategy with the aim of improving housing outcomes and to further the progressive realization of the right to adequate housing.

The Council continues to meet quarterly. They met with the Minister at their May meeting and discussed how they can best support his efforts.

The Council selected two new priorities for 2024/25 1) Scaling the non-market housing sector in Canada 2) Understanding the structure and health of the housing system in Canada. This follows the completion of their work plan for 2021/23, which included three reports with recommendations to the Minister on 1) Urban, Rural and Northern (URN) Indigenous Housing 2) Improving the National Housing Strategy, and 3) Progressive Realization of the Right to Adequate Housing. The reports can be found on the Council's website nhc-cnl.ca.

The Council completed its first review panel at the request of the Federal Housing Advocate on the financialization of purpose-built rental housing. The panel held a hearing which consisted of written and oral hearing phases. The panel sent its report with opinion and recommendations to the Minister on May 27. The Minister has 120 days to respond.

The Council also voted on its intent to proceed with the next review panel, as per the request of the Federal Housing Advocate, on the failure to prevent and eliminate homelessness amongst women and gender-diverse people.

Federal Housing Advocate

2020

The Federal Housing Advocate is an appointment by the Governor in Council and supported by the Canadian Human Rights Commission. The Federal Housing Advocate's mandate includes consulting with members of vulnerable groups and working directly with communities affected by systemic housing issues. The Advocate may request that the National Housing Council establish a review panel to hold a hearing to review any systemic housing issue within federal jurisdiction. The Advocate also monitors and reports annually on their findings related to systemic housing issues that they hear about and associated recommendations.

On February 3, 2022, the Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion announced the appointment of the new Federal Housing Advocate.

Read the Minister’s statement.

Review panels

In September 2022, the Federal Housing Advocate requested that the National Housing Council establish a review panel on the financialization of purpose-built rental housing. On December 8, 2022, the Council passed a motion to proceed with the review panel as requested by the Federal Housing Advocate. The panel held a hearing which consisted of written and oral hearing phases.

In May 2023, the Federal Housing Advocate requested that the National Housing Council establish a review panel on the failure to prevent and eliminate homelessness amongst women and gender-diverse people, particularly Indigenous women, gender-diverse, and Two-Spirit people.

Review of systemic housing issue

In February 2023, the Federal Housing Advocate launched a formal review of encampments in Canada. In October 2023, the Advocate released her first of a two-part report on encampments in Canada, and her final report titled Upholding dignity and human rights: the Federal Housing Advocate's review of homeless encampments was released in February 2024.

Annual report

The Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities received the Federal Housing Advocate's 2023 -24 annual report on April 29, and tabled the report in Parliament on May 29, 2024. The Minister is required to table his response in Parliament by September 26, 2024.

Solutions Labs

May 21, 2018

$24.5 million from 2018/19 to 2027/28

Provides housing stakeholders with funding to help solve complex and persistent housing problems and foster innovation in the housing sector.

Support experts and housing stakeholders to incubate and scale potential solutions to housing affordability pressures.

$16.7 million to support 73 solutions labs fostering innovation in the housing sector.

NHS Demonstrations Initiative

May 21, 2018

$12.5 million over 10 years from 2018/19 to 2027/28

Support demonstrations of forward-looking, innovative technologies, practices and strategies that explore the future of housing in Canada.

$8.3 million to support 43 demonstration projects.

Housing Supply Challenge

October 23, 2020

$300 million over 5 years from 2020/21 to 2024/25

The Housing Supply Challenge (HSC) invites citizens, stakeholders, and experts from across Canada to propose innovative solutions to the barriers that limit the housing supply.

The Housing Supply Challenge will result in new ideas and solutions that will help more people find an affordable place to call home.

Each round had dozens of submitted solutions and prototypes funded:

In Round 1:Data Driven, a total of 136 solutions were submitted, of which 21 were shortlisted and 14 prototypes were ultimately selected for funding (sharing a pool of $22.5 million for implementation).

In Round 2: Getting Started, a total of 167 solutions were submitted, of which 29 were shortlisted and 14 prototypes were ultimately selected for funding (sharing a pool of $38 million for implementation).

In Round 3: Northern Access, a total of 187 solutions were submitted, of which 33 were shortlisted and 15 solutions were selected for funding (sharing a pool of $72 million for implementation).

In Round 4: Building for the Future, a total of 252 solutions were submitted, of which 26 were shortlisted and 16 solutions were selected for funding (sharing a pool of $36 million for implementation).

In Round 5: Level-Up, a total of 254 solutions were submitted and 18 semi-finalists were identified. Final decisions on which solutions will receive the next stages of funding will be announced in Fall 2024 and Winter 2025.

Housing Research Scholarship Program

Spring 2018

$3.65 million over 10 years

Funding for postdoctoral fellows, PhD and Master's students to help build housing expertise in Canada.

$2.52 million in scholarships awarded for 28 postdoctoral fellowships to conduct research in support of the NHS. The program has been expanded to include PhD and Master's students, if funds allow. Funding announcements are expected in Summer 2024.

CMHCHousing Research Award Program

April 2018

$500,000 over 10 years

Promote and extend impactful housing research.

Awards ceremonies held in November 2018, December 2019, November 2020 and November  2021. The 2022 recipients were featured in videos posted to the CMHC Awards program page. The 2023 recipients were celebrated at an awards ceremony at the 2024 National Housing Conference.

To date, the program has given out 18 awards and 4 travel bursaries for a total of $270,000.

The 2024 competition launched in May 2024.

Collaborative Housing Research Network

July 12, 2018

$13.9 million over 10 years

Canada-wide collaboration of academics and community partners in research to inform housing policy decision-making

$640,000 awarded to 8 Partnership Development Grants ($80,000 each) to help lay the foundation of the Network.

Research Network created by supporting 6 multi-year team grants. Investment for first 5 years is $7.9 million.

NHS Research and Planning Fund

June 18, 2018

$6.6 million over 10 years

Support non-profit housing stakeholders and Indigenous partners seeking to plan, undertake, and share housing related research.

$5.5 million has been awarded to 41 research proposals across the country.

The next call for applications is anticipated for August 2024.

NHS Housing Needs Data

Fall 2018

$62 million over 10 years

Enhance data collection and analysis, development of new housing surveys and comprehensive databases with social, economic and financial information to produce housing statistics.

2 surveys were created to better understand housing conditions and experiences in Canada, including for those living in social and affordable housing.

• Results from the second Canadian Housing Survey (Statistics Canada)
• Results from the fourth Social and Affordable Housing Survey – Rental Structures (CMHC)

Creation of foundational documents necessary to initiate a mortgage industry data standards organization in Canada.

Survey of Non-Bank Residential Mortgage Lenders to get a more complete picture of the overall mortgage market in Canada.

Progress toward building a database of all social housing across Canada.

Progress toward building a database on residential evictions.

Expert Community on Housing (ECOH)

November 21, 2018

The Expert Community on Housing (ECoH) is an open community where members with a wide range of housing experience can collaborate, share knowledge, contribute to the development of housing solutions, and network with leaders within and outside of the traditional housing ecosystem to address common challenges.

Currently hosting over 2,500 members with ongoing intake of new members.

National Housing Conference

2018/19

Bi-annual conference to bring industry experts together.

CMHC hosted a National Housing Conference in 2018/19. Due to COVID, the 2020/21 conference was cancelled and none were held in 2021/22 and 2022/23.

CMHC hosted the National Housing Conference, with a theme of “Unlocking Solutions Together” on March 18 -19, 2024, at the Westin Ottawa. A conference summary report will be available in summer 2024.

Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF)

March 17, 2023

The Housing Accelerator Fund provides incentive funding to local governments encouraging initiatives aimed at increasing housing supply. It also supports the development of complete, low-carbon and climate-resilient communities that are affordable, inclusive, equitable and diverse.

$3.90 billion committed to fast track 105,862 housing units.

Budget 2024 announced an additional $400 million for the Housing Accelerator Fund to help fast track permits for 12,000 new homes by 2027 -28.

2017

$84M

2018

$405M

2019

$2,642M

2020

$3,393M

2021

$4,181M

2022

$3,915M

2023

$2,713M

2024

$936M

Expenditures^{Endnote 7}

$6,610M

2016/17

$10M

2017/18

$70M

2018/19

$0M

2019/20

$155M

2020/21

$1,214M

2021/22

$1,828M

2022/23

$1,122M

2023/24

$2,084M

2024/25

$127M

Canada Community Housing Initiative

$8.6 billion

$1.074 billion

$1.019 billion

PT Priorities Housing Initiative

$2.2 billion

$774.5million

$977.91 million

Canada Housing Benefit^{Endnote 8}

$4.3 billion

$493.92 million

$622.07 million

Northern Funding^{Endnote 9}

$300 million

$180.00 million

N/A

Units continue to be offered in social housing

308,097

330,000

15% Expansion of rent assisted units^{Endnote 13}

14,151

50,000

At least 20% of existing social housing units repaired^{Endnote 13}

120,755

60,000

Households Assisted through the CHB

154,532

300,000

Alberta

3,555

45,992

507

4,740

507

23,700

British Columbia

5,174

23,525

1,483

6,934

1,766

34,491

Manitoba

2,108

18,787

625

5,470

663

23,417

New Brunswick

1,262

6,633

48

1,991

52

9,954

Newfoundland and Labrador

894

3,236

75

1,192

75

5,957

Northwest Territories

100

532

67

856

10

1,231

Nova Scotia

1,591

6,074

106

3,000

111

11,615

Nunavut

244

670

0

325

0

1,625

Ontario

19,660

50,623

1,452

26,213

1,452

131,063

Prince Edward Island

588

2,203

0

377

0

936

Quebec^{Endnote 14}

N/A

145,270

1,128

N/A

1,128

63,630

Saskatchewan

2,467

10,169

249

3,290

165

16,448

Yukon

98

5,535

0

199

0

543

Total

37,714

319,249

5,740

54,587

5,929

324,610

Affordable Housing Fund

12,239

34,002

Apartment Construction Loan Program

13,874

n/a

Rapid Housing Initiative

5,392

n/a

Affordable Housing Innovation Fund

10

115

Federal Lands Initiative

620

0

Survivors of gender-based violence

3,536

1,944

Seniors

10,723

41,426

Young adults

648

124

Indigenous peoples

13,750

19,241

People with developmental disabilities

2,542

23,241

People with physical disabilities

People dealing with mental health and addiction issues

2,538

1,055

Veterans

207

29

2SLGBTQIA+

141

7

Racialized groups

283

8

Recent immigrants (especially refugees)

325

344

People experiencing or at risk of homelessness

7,831

4,126

Black Canadians

564

157

Total Number of Units Committed for NHS priority populations

43,088

91,702

Survivors of gender-based violence

10

0

Seniors

16

95

Young adults

0

100

Indigenous peoples

1,248

0

People with disabilities

26

55

People dealing with mental health and addiction issues

4

0

Veterans

0

0

2SLGBTQIA+

0

0

Racialized groups

0

0

Recent immigrants (especially refugees)

0

40

People experiencing homelessness

706

0

Total Number of Units Committed for NHS priority populations

2,025

290

Survivors of gender-based violence

110

Seniors

81

Young adults

0

Indigenous peoples

296

People with disabilities

29

People dealing with mental health and addiction issues

0

Veterans

0

2SLGBTQIA+

0

Racialized groups

0

Recent immigrants (especially refugees)

30

People experiencing homelessness

30

Total Number of Units Committed for NHS priority populations

576

Survivors of gender-based violence

985

Seniors

2,247

Young adults

286

Indigenous peoples

6,242

People with disabilities

745

People dealing with mental health and addiction issues

1,191

Veterans

7

2SLGBTQIA+

109

Racialized groups (including Black Canadians)

265

Recent immigrants (especially refugees)

76

People experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness

3,568

Total Number of Units Committed for NHS priority populations

15,896

Survivors of gender-based violence

2,303

1,944

Seniors

8,379

41,331

Young adults

362

24

Indigenous peoples

5,964

19,241

People with disabilities

1,742

23,186

People dealing with mental health and addiction issues

1,343

1,055

Veterans

200

29

2SLGBTQIA+

32

7

Racialized groups

18

8

Black Canadians

374

157

Recent immigrants (especially refugees)

201

304

People experiencing homelessness

3,527

4,126

Total Number of Units Committed for NHS priority populations

24,445

91,412