Progress on the National Housing Strategy - September 2023

Affordable Housing Innovation Fund (AHIF)

September 30, 2016 (Phase 1)

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

4,000 affordable housing units created using innovative business approaches and building techniques.

Phase 1: $208.30 million committed to support the creation of 19,132 units, of which 16,604 will be affordable.

For Phase 1, 14,965 units are financial commitments and 4,167 units are currently under construction or built.

August 30, 2022 (Phase 2)

$550.8 million over 6 years from 2022/23 to 2027/28

At least 10,800 housing units created.

Phase 2: $86.04 million committed to support the creation of 9,507 units, of which 2,075 will be affordable.

Rental Construction Financing Initiative (RCFI)

April 20, 2017

$25.75 billion over 11 years from 2017/18 to 2027/28

Construction of more than 71,000 new rental housing units across Canada.

CMHC has committed $17.61 billion in loans to support the creation of 46,968 units. Of the 46,968 units,

• 14,290 are conditional commitments;
• 2,161 are financial commitments;
• 20,260 units are currently under construction;
• 10,257 units are built.

Federal Lands Initiative (FLI)

February 11, 2019

$202 million over 10 years from 2018/19 to 2027/28

Create 4,000 housing units by transferring surplus federal lands and buildings to housing providers at low or no cost.

CMHC has committed $120.40 million to support the creation of 3,936 units, of which 1,720 will be affordable.

Of the 3,936 units, 791 units are conditional commitments, 3,133 units are under development.

National Housing Co-Investment Fund (NHCF)

May 2, 2018

$13.17 billion over 10 years from 2018/19 to 2027/28

Create 60,000 new housing units and repair or renew 240,000 housing units

CMHC has committed $7.49 billion to support the creation of 31,589 new units (20,867 affordable) and the repair/renewal of 128,959 units (117,659 affordable).

Of the $7.49 billion, $4.42 billion are loans and $3.07 billion are contributions/forgivable loans.

New Units

Of the 31,589 new units, 4,717 units are conditional commitments, 16,011 units are in progress, and 10,861 units are built. This includes commitments to make 1,388 shelter spaces or transitional housing units available for survivors of gender-based violence, 6,992 housing units for seniors, and 847 units for people with developmental disabilities.

Repair/Renewal Units

Of the 128,959 repair units, 6,741 units are conditional commitments, 78,865 units are in progress, and 43,353 units are repaired/renewed. This includes commitments to repair/renew 347 shelter spaces or transitional housing units for survivors of gender-based violence, and 40,877 senior units.

Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI)

October 27, 2020 (Round 1)

$1 billion over 2 years from 2020/21 to 2021/22

Create over 3,000 affordable housing units

Under Round 1, CMHC has committed $1 billion to support the creation of 4,760 new affordable units, of which 3,164 units are built and 1,596 are currently under construction.

Of the total units committed in Round 1, 1,824 units are for Indigenous peoples, 1,401 units are for homeless people or those at risk of being homeless, and 804 units are for seniors.

June 30, 2021 (Round 2)

$1.5 billion for 1 year in 2021/22

Create over 4,500 affordable housing units

Under Round 2, CMHC has committed $1.5 billion to support the creation of 5,595 new affordable units, of which 1,600 units are built and 3,995 units are currently under construction.

Of the total units committed in Round 2, 2,476 units are for Indigenous peoples, 1,185 units are for homeless people or those at risk of being homeless, and 538 units are for seniors.

November 10, 2022 (Round 3)

$1.5  billion over 2 years from 2022/23 to 2023/24

Create over 4,500 affordable housing units

Under Round 3, CMHC has committed $1.34 billion to support the creation of 5,252 new affordable units.

Affordable Housing Innovation Fund – Phase 1

Funding ($M)

n/a

$49

$57

$10

$88

$3

$208

Units/Beds

n/a

2,665

7,822

463

8,142

8

19,100

Affordable Housing Innovation Fund – Phase 2

Funding ($M)

n/a

$4

$71

$11

n/a

n/a

$103

Units/Beds

n/a

54

9,320

133

n/a

n/a

9,507

Federal Land Initiative

Funding ($M)

$11

$1

$49

$10

$48

$3

$120

Units/Beds

295

12

2,178

463

952

36

3,936

National Housing Co-Investment Fund

Funding ($M)

$242

$465

$4,161

$905

$1,440

$278

$7,491

Units/Beds

4,427

10,732

116,522

11,224

16,086

1,557

160,548

Rapid Housing Initiative – Phase 1

Funding ($M)

$45

$223

$356

$142

$206

$22

$994

Units/Beds

300

1,724

1,117

843

692

83

4,760

Rapid Housing Initiative – Phase 2

Funding ($M)

$70

$343

$530

$256

$186

$91

$1,476

Units/Beds

378

1,506

1,650

1,217

507

357

5,595

Rapid Housing Initiative – Phase 3

Funding ($M)

$94

$318

$452

$243

$153

$81

$1,341

Units/Beds

510

1,638

1,393

964

538

209

5,252

Rental Construction Financing Initiative

Funding ($M)

$665

$2,701

$7,724

$483

$6,011

$22

$17,606

Units/Beds

2,125

8,281

20,687

2,035

13,753

87

46,968

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.

Over $42 million to extend subsidies to 25,706 households was provided during Phase 1 of the program which sunset in 2019-20.

September 1, 2020 (Phase II)

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

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

Since 2020-21, $106.78 million in rent assistance was provided to 9,216 low-income households, supporting 42,337 community housing units.

Community Housing Transformation Centre (CHTC)

and Sector Transformation Fund (STF)

April 11, 2019 (CHTC)

December 2019 (STF)

$68.6 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.

$28.0 million has been provided to the CHTC to set up operations, cover operating and program- eligible costs, and provide funding to 249 STF applications. 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 171 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 1}

April 1, 2019

Nearly $4 billion over 9 years

Reduce chronic homelessness nationally by 50% by March 2028.

Redesigned federal homelessness program launched on April 1, 2019.

• +6% (2020) change in chronic homelessness among shelter users (relative to 2016 baseline)
• 59,309 people placed in more stable housing under Reaching Home (cumulative for 2019 -2023)
• 108,965 people who received prevention or shelter diversion services under Reaching Home (cumulative for 2019 -2023)

Shared Equity Mortgage Providers Fund (SEMP)

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

$33.95 million committed to assist in the creation of 1,088 new homeownership units.

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

CMHC has approved 22,826 applications, representing $408.92 million in Shared Equity Mortgages.

Approved Applications (#)

7,800

7,105

3,340

2,298

1,425

859

Funded Applications (#)

7,336

6,900

3,188

2,196

1,365

804

Approved Shared Equity Mortgages ($)

$158,361,882

$120,636,972

$53,220,404

$31,474,085

$27,135,673

$18,094,461

Funded Shared Equity Mortgages ($)

$149,209,688

$116,718,841

$50,570,274

$29,808,722

$25,868,744

$16,710,393

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.

The Council meets quarterly. The Council has a work plan for 2021-2023 including three priority areas:

1. Progressive Realization of the Right to Adequate Housing,
2. Improving the National Housing Strategy, and
3. Urban, Rural and Northern (URN) Indigenous Housing.

On April 17, 2023, the National Housing Council submitted a report to the Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion with recommendations on improving the National Housing Strategy. The report entitled Renewing Canada’s National Housing Strategy is a comprehensive review of the federal government’s national housing strategy, and Canada’s progress toward achieving its goals.

On April 26, 2023, the National Housing Council announced that the review panel examining the financialization of purpose-built rental housing launched its written hearing process. The written hearing closed on Aug. 31 and 195 submissions were received. Oral hearings are expected to commence on October 23, 2023, with the Panel expected to submit its report in Spring 2024.

A call for new members to fill current vacancies on the Council and address succession planning goals closed on August 22, 2023.

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.

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; work is underway.

In February 2023, the Federal Housing Advocate launched a formal review of encampments in Canada. In October 2023, the Advocate will release her first of a two-part report on encampments in Canada.

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.

On June 14, 2023, the Minister of Housing and Diversity and Inclusion tabled in Parliament the Federal Housing Advocate’s 2022-23 Annual Report and his response to the report.

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.

$15.3 million to support 69 solutions labs fostering innovation in the housing sector.

NHSDemonstrations 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.

$7.5 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.

First round of the Challenge launched in October 2020; 14 projects were funded for a total of $25.4M. The second round of the Challenge launched in June 2021; 14 projects were funded for a total of $38.2M.

The third round of the Challenge launched in February 2022; 33 projects were shortlisted to move onto the next stage of the Challenge. Final funding decisions will be announced in November 2023.

The fourth round of the Challenge was launched in December 2022; 26 projects were shortlisted to move onto the next stage of the Challenge. Final funding decisions will be announced in March 2024.

Housing Research Scholarship Program

Spring 2018

$3.65 million over 10 years

Funding for postdoctoral fellowships 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 is currently open and accepting applications and may be expanded to Masters and PhD students, if funds allow.

CMHC Housing 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 are featured in videos posted to the CMHC Awards program page.

15 awards and 4 travel bursaries for a total of $220,000.

The 2023 competition recipients will be awarded in November 2023, with an awards ceremony to take place in March 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 seeking to undertake housing related research.

$5.4 million has been awarded to 40 research proposals across the country.

The latest round of 10 projects was announced in summer 2023 on the NHS RPF page.

The next call for applications is anticipated for 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 secondCanadian Housing Survey (Statistics Canada)
• Results from the second 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 2300 members with ongoing intake of new members.

National Housing Conference

2018/19

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 is planning the next National Housing Conference, “Unlocking Solutions Together” that will take place March 18 -19, 2024 at the Westin Ottawa. Information about the conference, including how to register, will be available in November.

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.

$75.06 million committed to fast track 1,814 housing units.

2017

$84M

2018

$405M

2019

$2,642M

2020

$3,393M

2021

$4,181M

2022

$3,915M

2023

$523M

Expenditures^{Endnote 2}

$5,541M

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

$1,141M

Canada Community Housing Initiative

$8.6 billion

$833.03 million

$1.24 billion

P/T Priorities Funding

$2.2 billion

$685.13 million

$1.5 billion

Canada Housing Benefit

$4.0 billion

$325.18 million

$386.0 million

Northern Funding^{Endnote 3}

$300 million

$150.00 million

N/A

Units continue to be offered in social housing

TBD

330,000 units

15% Expansion of rent assisted units

TBD

50,000 units

At least 20% of existing social housing units repaired

TBD

60,000 units

Households Assisted through the CHB

TBD

300,000 units

Alberta

3,555

35,511

56,426

3,555

507

4,740

507

23,700

British Columbia

5,174

23,525

68,387

6,387

1,483

6,934

1,766

34,491

Manitoba

2,108

17,619

48,219

937

625

5,470

663

23,417

New Brunswick

1,262

6,633

23,659

902

48

1,991

52

9,954

Newfoundland and Labrador

894

2,602

21,853

894

75

1,192

75

5,957

Northwest Territories

100

532

4,422

36

67

856

10

1,231

Nova Scotia

2032

6,171

19,629

2095

106

3,774

111

11,615

Nunavut

244

670

3069

234

0

325

0

1,625

Ontario

19,660

50,623

215,633

3,123

1,452

26,213

1,452

131,063

Prince Edward Island

588

2,203

9,722

618

0

377

0

936

Quebec^{Endnote 4}

N/A

145 270

N/A

N/A

1,128

N/A

1,128

63,630

Saskatchewan

2,467

10,169

54,636

511

249

3,290

165

16,448

Yukon

98

5,535

6,439

614

0

199

0

543

Total

38,182

307,063

532,094

19,906

5,740

55,361

5,929

324,610

Survivors of gender-based violence

2,923

1,919

Seniors

8,615

40,877

Young adults

426

24

Indigenous peoples

11,554

15,867

People with developmental disabilities

2,075

23,180

People with physical disabilities

People dealing with mental health and addiction issues

2,101

575

Veterans

227

29

2SLGBTQIA+

88

7

Racialized groups

166

8

Recent immigrants (especially refugees)

389

304

People experiencing or at risk of homelessness

6,714

4,113

Black Canadians

400

109

Women and children^{Endnote 9}

9,252

20,700

Total Number of Units Committed ^{Endnote 10}

44,930

107,712

Survivors of gender-based violence

10

Seniors

119

Young adults

100

Indigenous peoples

2,093

People with disabilities

92

People dealing with mental health and addiction issues

4

Veterans

20

2SLGBTQIA+

0

Racialized groups

0

Recent immigrants (especially refugees)

115

People experiencing homelessness

706

Total Number of Units Committed^{Endnote 10}

3,648

Survivors of gender-based violence

110

Seniors

162

Young adults

0

Indigenous peoples

296

People with disabilities

13

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^{Endnote 10}

1,151

Survivors of gender-based violence

849

Seniors

2,303

Young adults

294

Indigenous peoples

6,157

People with disabilities

719

People dealing with mental health and addiction issues

1,008

Veterans

7

2SLGBTQIA+

109

Racialized groups (including Black Canadians)

417

Recent immigrants (especially refugees)

68

People experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness

3,616

Total Number of Units Committed^{Endnote 10}

15,547

Survivors of gender-based violence

2,331

1,919

Seniors

6,992

40,877

Young adults

152

24

Indigenous peoples

4,870

15,867

People with disabilities

1,684

23,180

People dealing with mental health and addiction issues

1,343

575

Veterans

200

29

2SLGBTQIA+

32

7

Racialized groups

0

8

Black Canadians

296

109

Recent immigrants (especially refugees)

191

304

People experiencing homelessness

3,392

4,113

Women and children^{Endnote 9}

8,353

20,700

Total Number of Units Committed^{Endnote 10}

29,836

107,712