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Federal Homelessness Programming

Issue / question

What is the Government of Canada doing to address homelessness?

Suggested response

  • Homelessness is a complex issue and our government is committed to working with partners and communities to eliminate chronic homelessness in Canada by 2030. That is why we are investing nearly $4 billion over nine years through Reaching Home to support communities in their vital work to prevent and reduce homelessness.
  • Since 2019, Reaching Home has supported over 6,700 projects. Through these projects, over 69,000 people have been placed in more stable housing, and over 122,000 people have received homelessness prevention services such as rental assistance or landlord mediation.
  • Budget 2022 announced $18 million over three years to support Action Research on Chronic Homelessness to identify actions needed to eliminate chronic homelessness.
  • Moreover, in April 2023, the Government of Canada launched a new Veteran Homelessness Program that will deliver $79.1 million to provide housing support and services to Veterans experiencing, or at risk of homelessness.

Background

Budget 2022: On April 7, 2022, the Budget announced:

  • an investment of $562.2 million over two years through Reaching Home, beginning in 2024-25;
  • $18.1 million over three years, beginning in 2022-23, to conduct action research to identify what further measures are required to eliminate chronic homelessness;
  • a commitment to eliminating chronic homelessness in Canada by 2030.

Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy

As part of the National Housing Strategy, the Government launched Reaching Home in 2019. This community-based program funds specific communities through the Designated Communities, Indigenous Homelessness, Rural and Remote Homelessness and Territorial Homelessness streams.

Since April 1, 2019, Reaching Home has supported over 6,700 projects:

  • 69,846 people have been placed in more stable housing.
  • 30,074 people began receiving income assistance.
  • 122,472 people received prevention services such as rental assistance or landlord mediation.
  • 11,495 people started new paid employment.

Reaching Home in Quebec: the Designated Communities stream and the Rural and Remote Homelessness stream are governed by a Canada-Quebec Agreement that reflects the jurisdictions and priorities of both governments. The Indigenous Homelessness stream is administered by Infrastructure Canada throughout the province, and is not under a Canada-Quebec Agreement.

Action Research on Chronic Homelessness (ARCH): this program will inform the development of a broader strategy and identify actions needed to eliminate chronic homelessness by exploring ways to break down persistent barriers encountered by communities and facilitating broad scale learning and knowledge sharing between communities and jurisdictions across Canada.

To do this, action research sites will work to:

  • Identify and document persistent barriers encountered by communities to reducing and ending chronic homelessness; and,
  • Test potential approaches to address persistent barriers and document successes and challenges.

Veteran Homelessness Program: the Services and Supports Stream will provide $72.9 million in funding for rent supplements and wrap-around services (such as counselling and treatment for substance use) and the Capacity Building Stream will provide $6.2 million in funding to support research on Veteran homelessness and capacity building. Eligible recipients, including Veteran-serving organizations, could apply to one or both funding streams. A Call for Proposals closed on July 6, 2023, and agreements with successful applicants are expected to be in place in fall 2023

National Housing Strategy

Issue / question

What are the key accomplishments in housing since Budget 2022?

Suggested response

  • Mr. Speaker, housing affordability and housing supply are real challenges faced by many Canadians. That is why the Government's National Housing Strategy (NHS) is a 10 year, $82+ billion plan that will give more Canadians a place to call home.
  • Since launching the Strategy in 2017, we have made over $36 billion in commitments to support affordable housing, the creation of new units and the repair of existing ones.
  • The NHS delivers concrete results. Since its launch, the federal government has supported the creation and repair of 238,390 units (112,379 new units and repairs to 126,011 units).

Background

  • Canada's National Housing Strategy (NHS) sets ambitious targets to ensure that unprecedented investments and new programming deliver results. This initial target was a 50% reduction in chronic and episodic homelessness, the government is now focused on entirely eliminating chronic homelessness in Canada, and as many as 530,000 households being taken out of housing needs. The NHS will result in up to 160,000 new housing units and 300,000 repaired or renewed housing units.
  • Through new initiatives like the National Housing Co-Investment Fund, the community housing initiatives, and funding to the provinces and territories, the NHS will create a new generation of housing in Canada. Our plan will promote diverse communities. It will build housing that is sustainable, accessible, mixed-income, and mixed-use. We will build housing that is fully integrated into the community— close to transit, close to work, and close to public services.
  • Expanded and reformed federal homelessness programming, a new Canada Housing Benefit, and a human rights-based approach to housing will ensure that the NHS prioritizes the most vulnerable Canadians including women and children fleeing family violence, Indigenous peoples, seniors, people with disabilities, those dealing with mental health and addiction issues, veterans, young adults, and those experiencing homelessness. All programs in the NHS will be based on best evidence and ongoing input from people with lived experience of housing need.
  • The NHS respects the Government of Canada's commitment to working on a nation-to-nation, Inuit-to-Crown, government-to-government basis with Indigenous peoples, which is why Indigenous Services Canada, with support from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, is currently engaging with First Nations, Métis Nation, and Inuit partners to develop distinctions-based housing strategies.

National Housing Co-Investment Fund

Issue / question

What is the government doing to ensure housing is available for Canadians in need?

Suggested response

  • Mr. Speaker, the $13.2 billion National Housing Co‑Investment Fund is at the core of the National Housing Strategy. We will build up to 60,000 new homes and repair up to 240,000 units of existing affordable and community housing. Our government is working with partners across the country to invest in the growth of livable communities.
  • Budget 2022 has advanced $2.9 billion in funding, under the National Housing Co-Investment Fund to accelerate the creation and repair of units for Canadians who need them most.
  • Mr. Speaker, as of June 30, 2023, there have been over 700 approved applications issued with a total commitment of over $6.98 billion in low-cost loans and contributions for a total commitment of over 154,201 new and repaired units.

Background

  • The National Housing Co-Investment Fund attracts partnerships with, and investments from the provinces and territories, municipalities, non-profits and co‑operatives, and the private sector, to focus on new construction and the preservation and renewal of the existing affordable housing supply. The National Housing Co-Investment Fund aims to support more shelter spaces for survivors of family violence, transitional and supportive housing, new and renewed affordable and community housing, and ways of making homeownership more affordable. It also supports Canada's climate change goals, as well as improve accessibility of housing for people with disabilities, by promoting universal design and visitability.
  • The National Housing Co-Investment Fund is also aligned with public investment in job creation, skills training, transit, early learning, health care, and cultural and recreational infrastructure. The federal government will work closely with provinces and territories to ensure housing investments are well coordinated and aligned.
  • To maximize the impact of the Fund, the Government combines contributions and loans with the transfer of federal lands to affordable and community housing providers. Over the next 10 years, starting in 2022, up to $200 million in federal lands will be transferred to housing providers to encourage the development of sustainable, accessible, mixed-income, mixed-use developments and communities.
  • Budget 2022 advanced $2.9 billion in funding, on a cash basis, under the National Housing Co-Investment Fund, so that all remaining funds will be spent by 2025-26, accelerating the creation of up to 4,300 new units and the repair of up to 17,800 units for the Canadians who need them most.
  • The Fund has minimum eligibility requirements for its social outcomes. Borrowers must:
    • Demonstrate financial viability and their financial and operational ability to carry the project.
    • Provide rents for at least 30% of the units must be less than 80% of the Median Market Rent and maintained for a minimum of 20 years.
    • Meet 25% decrease in energy consumption and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions.
    • Ensure that 20% of units within the project must meet or exceed accessibility standards.

Rental Construction Financing Initiative

Issue / question

What is the government doing to promote supply of rental housing?

Suggested response

  • Mr. Speaker, the Rental Construction Financing Initiative encourages the construction of rental housing by providing low-cost loans to support projects in areas where there is a need for additional rental supply. This initiative provides almost $26 billion in loans that will run until 2028 for the construction of more than 71,000 rental units in communities across Canada.
  • Projects under the initiative offer affordable residential rents, accessible units, greater energy efficiency and reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and demonstrate long-term financial viability.
  • I'm pleased to report that as of June 30, 2023, the initiative has supported the creation of over 41,501 units of which close to 29,010 will be affordable.

Background

  • The Rental Construction Financing Initiative provides low-cost loans to encourage the construction of rental housing across Canada. It supports sustainable apartment projects in areas where there is a need for additional rental supply. The initiative has a total of $25.75 billion in available loans for the construction of 71,000 units and is open from 2017 to the end of 2028. Budget 2022 announced the government's intent to reform the Rental Construction Financing initiative by strengthening its affordability and energy efficiency requirements.
  • The initiative focuses on standard apartment projects in Canada with general occupants. It offers:
    • a 10 year term (closed to pre-payment) and a fixed interest rate locked in at first advance for certainty during the riskiest periods of development;
    • up to a 50 year amortization period;
    • CMHC mortgage loan insurance that is effective from first draw and for the duration of the amortization period to simplify loan renewal. The borrower does not pay the premium, only the PST if applicable;
    • up to 100% loan to cost for residential space and up to 75% loan to cost for non-residential space (depending on the strength of the application);
    • interest only payments financed by the loan during construction through to occupancy permit; and
    • principal and interest payments are due after 12 months of stabilized effective gross income
  • Budget 2022 also proposed an additional $1 billion in loans to be reallocated from the Rental Construction Financing Initiative to support co-op housing projects.
  • Projects including social housing, student and retirement residences do not qualify. Eligible projects must include affordable rental housing units and include resource efficiencies and accessibility features within the building design.
  • All projects must meet one of the following affordability requirements and it should be maintained for at least 10 years.
  • At least 20% of units must have rents below 30% of the median total income of all families for the area, and the total residential rental income must be at least 10% below its gross achievable residential income.

Canada Housing Benefit

Issue / question

Who will be benefiting from the Canada Housing Benefit?

Suggested response

  • Mr. Speaker, for many Canadians, it is becoming increasingly challenging to find a safe and affordable place to call home. To help address this, our Government has created the $4 billion Canada Housing Benefit, which provides direct financial support to families in need across the country.
  • Our Government has worked with provinces and territories to create and deliver a unique benefit for each jurisdiction, based on local housing needs and priorities.
  • In addition to this, Budget 2022 provided a one-time top-up to the Canada Housing Benefit, providing a $500 payment to 1.8 million Canadian renters who are struggling with the cost of housing.

Background

  • $2 billion for a Canada Housing Benefit (totalling $4 billion with expected PT cost-matching). The Canada Housing Benefit will deliver financial housing benefit provided directly to families and individuals in housing need and support at least 300,000 households across the country.
  • $1.2 billion, of which $475 million was committed in Budget 2022 to provide a one-time $500 payment to 1.8 million Canadian renters who are struggling with the cost of housing.
  • Applications for the one-time top-up were open from December 12, 2022 to March 31, 2023. More than 750,000 applications were filled as of March 2023.For many Canadians, it is becoming increasingly challenging to find a safe and affordable place to call home. The high cost of living is making affordable housing even less attainable for the most vulnerable Canadians.
  • To help address this, the Government passed legislation to make life more affordable for Canadians who need it most.
  • The Canada Housing Benefit is delivered by the provinces and territories and invests $4 billion, cost-matched by both the federal and provincial and territorial governments, over a period of eight years up to 2027-2028.
  • The provincial/territorial Canada Housing Benefit aims to reduce housing need for some of Canada's most vulnerable population groups by providing funding directly to households in need, monthly, to help them afford their housing costs.
  • In addition, one of the new measures introduced in Budget 2022 was a one-time top-up to the Canada Housing Benefit, a one-time payment of $500 to roughly 1.8 million eligible renters in Canada who are struggling with the cost of housing.
  • This one-time federal benefit was in addition to the Canada Housing Benefit co-funded and delivered by the provinces and territories.
  • The one-time top-up to the Canada Housing Benefit was available to applicants with an adjusted net income below $35,000 for families, or below $20,000 for individuals, who are 15 years of age or older and pay at least 30% of their adjusted net income on rent. 

Affordable Housing Innovation Fund

Issue / question

How will we create change to make housing more innovative and affordable?

Suggested response

  • Our government has invested over $759 million to give innovative housing providers and developers the resources to test new ideas and explore better ways of meeting housing challenges.
  • To date, the funds committed under both phases of the Affordable Housing Innovation Fund will create close to 20,000 homes, with more than 16,000 of them being affordable housing units.
  • To help make it easier for renters to get on the path to home ownership, Budget 2022 also announced the establishment of a five year, $200 million rent-to-own stream under this initiative to develop and test innovative models and projects across the country.

Background

  • The Affordable Housing Innovation Fund supports new ideas that will drive change and disrupt the industry – ideas and approaches that will evolve the affordable housing sector and create the next generation of housing in Canada.
  • This funding will support innovations that:
    • develop and test innovations that incorporate resource and operating efficiencies and are replicable and scalable – including financing, operating models and technologies
    • facilitate partnerships and encourage participation from diverse stakeholders including private sector, not-for-profits, community housing organizations, co-operatives, municipalities, provinces, territories, Indigenous governments and organizations and social investment organizations
  • The Affordable Housing Innovation Fund defines affordability based on the affordability criteria of the municipality where the project is located. Failing such municipal criteria, the provincial criteria may be used. Where no affordability criteria exist, CMHC will determine affordability for rental housing projects based on the median market rent. Projects must remain affordable for at least 10 years.
  • This investment is expected to support the construction of up to 6,000 new affordable homes over six years, helping to fill the gap for low and moderate-income households, seniors, new immigrants, and young professionals. The Innovation Fund will help generate innovation and growth in the affordable housing sector by encouraging the development of new funding models and building techniques. The goal is to test new, innovative financing models and unique designs used to make housing more accessible and lower the costs and risks associated with affordable housing projects.
  • The Rent-to-Own stream of the Affordable Housing Innovation Fund is for housing providers interested in developing, testing and scaling innovative rent-to-own models and projects. This funding will give housing providers, developers, and investors resources to test new ideas. It enables them to explore better ways of meeting housing challenges, including financing projects and developing funding models to address new gaps and respond to a shifting housing landscape. If your innovative rent-to-own project or idea qualifies for funding, you'll need to demonstrate how it will help a tenant to become a homeowner within five years.

Housing Accelerator Fund

Issue / question

How will the Housing Accelerator Fund increase housing supply?

Suggested response

  • Mr. Speaker, it is getting harder every day to build the housing we need across the country which is why our government has launched a $4 billion initiative that will provide funding to cities, towns, and Indigenous governments to unlock new housing supply and fast-track the creation of 100,000 new homes across Canada.
  • The Housing Accelerator Fund will provide funding to local governments to incentivize local initiatives that remove barriers to housing supply, accelerate the growth of supply, and support the development of complete, low-carbon and climate-resilient communities.
  • As of September 2023, we have received over 606 applications from across the country. Approved applicants have flexibility in using their incentive funding to support housing in their communities.

Background

  • The Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) 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.
  • Federal Budget 2022 announced $4 billion in funding until 2026-27 to launch the HAF. The target is to create at least 100,000 net new housing units over the course of the initiative.
  • It will provide funding to local governments to incentivize local initiatives that remove barriers to housing supply, accelerate the growth of supply, and support the development of complete, low-carbon and climate-resilient communities, which are affordable, inclusive, equitable, and diverse.
  • The HAF will also encourage local governments to implement lasting initiatives that reduce barriers to housing supply and development approvals, and over the long run, make housing more affordable to Canadians.
  • The Fund is not directly providing funding for housing projects.
  • The HAF encourages local governments to implement initiatives that support complete communities, consisting of a broader range of land uses and housing types. The program also supports the creation of more affordable, inclusive, equitable, and diverse communities. It aims to incentivize local governments to create conditions where more homes can be built faster. It is expected that these homes will be across the entire housing continuum of all building types and will house more Canadians as a whole.
  • CMHC has received feedback from smaller communities regarding challenges finalizing HAF applications within the application window ending on August 18, 2023. In recognition of these challenges, the application deadline has been extended from Friday August 18, 2023 to Friday September 29, 2023 for Small/Rural/North/Indigenous communities who initiated draft applications in the CMHC Portal.
  • The government recently announced a $74 million contribution from the Housing Accelerator Fund to the City of London, Ontario. London's application commits to 2,000 additional housing units over the next three years. The City of Calgary has also received approval for federal funding to invest in new housing as part of the Housing Accelerator Fund.

Federal Lands Initiative

Issue / question

Increasing the supply of affordable housing through a new program that is energy efficient, accessible and socially inclusive.

Suggested response

  • Mr. Speaker, as part of the National Housing Strategy, the Federal Lands Initiative is a $200 million fund that supports the transfer of surplus federal lands and buildings to eligible proponents.
  • This initiative launched in 2018 with a target of 4,000 new or renovated housing units over the next 10 years that would be energy efficient, accessible and socially inclusive. Surplus federal properties across Canada will be made available through the new program to partners that repurpose them to provide housing at less-than-market rates.
  • As of June 30, 2023, we are on track to deliver more units at higher levels of affordability than our initial targets.

Background

  • The Federal Lands Initiative (FLI) is a $200 million fund that supports the transfer of surplus federal lands and buildings to eligible proponents. This is available at discounted to no cost to be developed or renovated for use as affordable housing. The discount on the property will depend on the level of social outcomes achieved by the winning proposal. Once transferred, the property will be developed or renovated into affordable, sustainable, accessible and socially inclusive housing.
  • As of June 30, 2023, 21 agreements were signed representing a commitment of 3,940 units and $120.4 million in forgivable loans. In addition, eight properties are in the pipeline to support the creation of over 700 units.
  • The FLI was launched in 2018 with a target of making 4,000 suitable properties available to selected proponents over a 10 year period.
  • The FLI facilitates subsidies for the transfer of federal lands to housing providers to encourage the development of sustainable, accessible, mixed-income, mixed-use developments and communities. Surplus federal properties across Canada will be made available through the new program to partners that repurpose them to provide housing at less-than-market rates. The partners will receive the federal properties at a value somewhere between market value and $1. The difference between market value and transfer value represents the government's contribution towards the provision of affordable housing.
  • Each housing project must meet the following National Housing Strategy requirements:
    • Affordability: 30% of units must have rents at less than 80% of local median market rents;
    • Energy efficiency: a minimum 25% reduction in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions compared to either national building codes or past performance; and
    • Accessibility: 20% of units must meet accessibility standards.

First-Time Home Buyer Incentive

Issue / question

How will the National Housing Strategy help Canadians purchase their first home?

Suggested response

  • For many young Canadians, home ownership seems increasingly out of reach. Which is why as part of the 10 year, $82+ billion National Housing Strategy, the First-Time Home Buyer Incentive helps make homeownership more affordable by lowering their monthly mortgage payment.
  • It offers qualified first-time home buyers an incentive amount of 5 or 10% of the original home value for a newly constructed home or 5% in the case of an existing home.  The Incentive is repayable after 25 years, or earlier where the homeowner wishes to prepay the Incentive or sells the home. 
  • $1.25 billion has been allocated to implement the First-Time Home Buyer Incentive until 2025. As of June 30, 2023, our government had committed close to $370 million , supporting over 20,000 first-time buyers.

Background

First-Time Home Buyer Incentive

  • $1.25 billion for the First-Time Home Buyer Incentive (FTHBI) (extended until March 31, 2025). As of June 30, 2023, CMHC has committed $369 million representing 20,651 applications to the FTHBI.
  • The FTHBI is a shared-equity mortgage with the Government of Canada, available through financial institutions, which offers:
    • 5% or 10% for a first-time buyer's purchase of a newly constructed home
    • 5% for a first-time buyer's purchase of a resale (existing) home
    • 5% for a first-time buyer's purchase of a new or resale mobile/manufactured home
  • The shared equity component of the incentive means that the government shares in both the upside and downside of the property value, up to a maximum gain or loss equal to 8% per annum (not compounded) on the Incentive amount from the date of advance to the time of repayment. 
  • The homebuyer must repay the Incentive after 25 years, or when the property is sold, whichever comes first. The homebuyer can also repay the Incentive in full any time before, without a pre-payment penalty.

Shared Equity Mortgage Providers Fund

  • $100 million to fund existing providers of shared equity mortgages. As of June 30, 2023, commitments of $33.95 million have been made to support over 1,088 units.
  • The Shared Equity Mortgage Providers (SEMP) supports existing shared equity mortgage providers. The program offers eligible proponents repayable loans from one of two possible funding streams:
    • Preconstruction Loans: Funding for preconstruction cost loans to commence new housing projects in which shared equity mortgages will be provided to homebuyers via SEMPs.
    • Shared Equity Mortgages: Allows SEMPs to fund shared equity mortgages that they provide directly to first time homebuyers.

Rapid Housing Initiative

Issue / question

What is the aim of the Rapid Housing Initiative?

Suggested response

  • Mr. Speaker, the $4 billion Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI) addresses urgent housing needs for vulnerable Canadians by rapidly creating new affordable housing.
  • The RHI provides capital contributions to facilitate the rapid construction of new housing and/or acquisition of existing buildings for conversion. The objective is to quickly create new permanent affordable housing units targeted towards Canadians in severe housing need and prioritized under the National Housing Strategy.
  • Under the three rounds of RHI, we are creating over 15,500 new affordable units with over 5,000 new units supporting women and/or women and their children (36% of units), and over 6,000 new units supporting Indigenous Peoples (39% of units).

Background

Round 1

  • The Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI) was initially a $1 billion program to help address urgent housing needs of vulnerable Canadians, especially in the context of COVID-19, through the rapid construction of affordable housing. The initial $1 billion investment is divided into two equal funding streams:
    • The Major Cities Stream provided $500 million in immediate support to 15 pre-determined municipalities that were identified in consultation with the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM).
    • Under the $500 million Projects Stream, provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous governing bodies and organizations, and non-profit organizations, could apply for funding by December 31, 2020. The RHI received a significant amount of interest, resulting in a high number of quality applications that far exceeded the available funding.

Round 2

  • Budget 2021 committed$1.5 billion for the RHI in 2021-22 to address the urgent housing needs of vulnerable Canadians by providing them with adequate affordable housing in short order.
  • At least 25% of this funding would go towards women-focused housing projects.
  • $500 million was allocated to the Cities Stream and flowed to 30 pre-determined municipalities.
  • $1 billion was allocated to unfunded eligible projects from Round 1.

Round 3

  • Budget 2022 provided $1.5 billion over two years, starting in 2022-23, to extend the RHI. This new funding is expected to create over 5,200 new affordable housing units, with 48% of units going towards women-focused housing projects.
  • The $500 million under the Cities Stream was allocated to 41 pre‑determined municipalities based on Census 2021 data of renters in severe housing need.
  • $1 billion under the Projects Stream was allocated via an applications-based process. Eligible applicants for this stream include provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous governing bodies and organizations, and non-profit organizations.

Funding and Programs for Shelters

Issue / question

How will the National Housing Strategy support people who are victims of gender-based violence?

Suggested response

  • Mr. Speaker, providing a safe and secure space for people fleeing domestic violence is a priority for the Government of Canada.
  • With the work done under the National Housing Strategy and other initiatives, we have supported the creation or repair of over 13,100 shelter spaces since 2016.
  • We are investing over $724 million to expand culturally relevant supports for Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQQIA+ people who are escaping gender-based violence through the Indigenous Shelter and Transitional Housing Initiative. Since the launch of this initiative, 25 projects have been selected across the country.

Background

  • The National Housing Strategy (NHS) prioritizes meeting the needs of vulnerable populations, including women and children fleeing domestic violence, and many of the initiatives under the National Housing Strategy will help women and single mothers. For example, the $13.2 billion National Housing Co-Investment Fund (NHCF) provides capital contributions and low-cost loans for both new construction and repair and renewal of existing shelters across the country. Through the NHCF, the Government plans to help build and maintain at least 4,000 shelter spaces for survivors of family violence by 2028.
  • The NHS promotes a whole of government collaboration and alignment of efforts across federal priorities, including the Gender-Based Analysis Plus initiative, Women and Gender Equality's Gender-based Violence Strategy and Employment and Social Development Canada's Poverty Reduction Strategy. The Seed funding program was also available to provide interest-free loans and/or non-repayable contributions for early development costs associated with the construction of shelters.
  • As part of the 2020 Fall Economic Statement, the Government of Canada announced an investment of $724.1 million available for a comprehensive Violence Prevention Strategy to expand culturally relevant supports for:
    • Indigenous women and their children
    • 2SLGBTQQIA+ people facing gender-based violence
  • The strategy supports new shelters and transitional (second stage) housing across Canada for: First Nations, Inuit and Métis. CMHC will allocate $420 million from 2020-2025 to support the construction of new shelters and transitional housing.
  • Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) will invest $304.1 million from 2020-2025, and $96.6 million annually to:
    • support the operational costs of new shelters and transition homes
    • expand funding for culturally-relevant violence prevention activities. For information on funding for these activities, please visit the website for Family Violence Prevention Program (sac-isc.gc.ca)

Indigenous Housing

Issue / question

How is the Government working with Indigenous communities to help address housing needs?

Suggested response

  • Mr. Speaker, our government is committed to improving Indigenous housing outcomes, and to building a new relationship together with Indigenous peoples, based on recognition of rights, respect, cooperation and partnerships.
  • We recognize that the Indigenous housing landscape is complex and that 87% of Indigenous households live in urban, rural, and northern areas. That is why our government has committed more than $1.6 billion in funding through the National Housing Strategy exclusively for Indigenous and Northern Housing.
  • Budget 2023 allocated $4 billion for the implementation of an Urban, Rural and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy, totaling over $8 billion committed since 2022 to improve and expand Indigenous housing in Canada.

Background

  • Funding was announced in successive federal budgets to support Indigenous housing across Canada – including First Nations living on reserve and in urban and rural communities, and in Inuit Nunangat and the North. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and Indigenous Services Canada (ISC) focus on different aspects of providing housing programs and services for eligible First Nation communities.
  • ISC funding is provided to eligible First Nations to support a range of housing activities, based on their priorities and at their discretion.
  • CMHC delivers specific housing programs that support construction, renovations, ongoing management of social housing and housing-specific development. CMHC has specialists located across the country that are working with Indigenous partners, communities and organizations to facilitate access to the National Housing Strategy and other CMHC programs. For example:
    • CMHC's On-Reserve Non-Profit Housing Program (Section 95) assists First Nations in the construction, purchase and rehabilitation and administration of rental housing on-reserve.
    • CMHC's On-Reserve Renovation Programs offer financial assistance to First Nations to repair substandard homes to a minimum level of health and safety, to convert non-residential properties into affordable self-contained housing units, and improve the accessibility of housing for low-income seniors and persons with disabilities.
    • CMHC's Shelter Enhancement Program on-reserve offers financial assistance for the repair, rehabilitation and improvement of existing shelters in First Nation communities for survivors of family violence.
  • Budget 2022 proposed $4.3 billion over seven years towards improving and expanding Indigenous housing in Canada, which includes:
    • $2.4 billion over five years to support First Nations housing on reserves;
    • $565 million over five years to support housing in Self-Governing and Modern Treaty Holder First Nations communities;
    • $845 million over seven years to support housing in Inuit communities;
    • $190 million over seven years for housing in Métis communities; and
    • $300 million over five years to co-develop and launch an Urban, Rural, and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy.
  • Budget 2023 committed an additional $4 billion, over seven years, starting in 2024-25, to implement a co-developed Urban, Rural, and Northern Indigenous Housing Strategy.

Accessible Housing

Issue / question

What is the Government doing to help Canadians have access to accessible housing regardless of their physical or other abilities?

Suggested response

  • Our housing programs prioritize projects that include accessibility features and are located close to transit, services, and supports, and employment opportunities.
  • For instance, projects funded under the National Housing Co‑Investment Fund and the Rental Construction Financing Initiative must have either universal or barrier-free designs or include common areas that meet or exceed local accessibility requirements.
  • Since 2018, we contributed to the creating, maintaining or repairing of more than 36,000 units of accessible housing in Canada. We are working to make a place to call home more accessible, so it makes a difference in so many lives for the people who need it. As of June 30, 2023, we have repaired over 1,400 and built over 4,300 accessible units.

Background

Affordable Housing Innovation Fund

  • Minimum 10% of units must be accessible.
  • Priority given to projects within 500 to 1,000 meters of transit or services.

Rental Construction Financing Initiative

  • Minimum 10% of units and all common areas must meet or exceed local accessibility requirements.
  • Higher priority given to projects with access to public transit.

National Housing Co-investment Fund

  • Minimum 20% of units must meet or exceed accessibility standards, and all projects must also have a barrier-free or universal design.
  • Higher priority given to projects in close proximity to transit.

Rapid Housing Initiative

  • Modular projects in the 15 major cities must provide at least 5% more accessible units than set out by their local accessibility requirements. Outside the major cities, higher priority given to projects exceeding their local accessibility requirements.

Community Housing

Issue / question

What is the Government doing to help preserve units for low-income households living in community housing when operating agreements expire?

Suggested response

  • Our government is taking concrete actions to ensure that Canada's community housing stock remains affordable and viable well into the future. That is why we are providing $4.3 billion through the Canada Community Housing Initiative to maintain affordability for 330,000 households in community housing across the country, and more.
  • We are also investing over $618 million over 10 years through the Federal Community Housing Initiative to support community housing providers across the country. As of June 30, 2023, more than 49,000 community units including low-income community units have been supported.
  • Budget 2022 has also reallocated $500 million of funding from the National Housing Co-Investment Fund to launch a new Co-operative Housing Development Program aimed at expanding co-op housing in Canada. The Program is currently being designed.

Background

  • The Canada Community Housing Initiative (CCHI) provides predictable, long-term funding to protect, regenerate and expand social and community housing, including social housing under legacy programs for urban Indigenous households in need. It is an initiative cost-matched and delivered by the provinces and territories, for a total of a $8,6 billion that will maintain approximately 330,000 households in community housing nationally.
  • Housing providers with expiring agreements that apply for new funding under the Federal Community Housing Initiative (FCHI) need to meet minimum requirements under a new agreement related to the depth and duration of affordability, social inclusion, asset management, and governance, and ensure that projects are charging adequate rents relative to tenant incomes.
  • The FCHI has two components: rental assistance and temporary transitional assistance. Rental assistance is offered to housing providers to ensure low-income households continue to receive rental support to help reduce or eliminate their housing needs.
  • In Phase 1 of the FCHI, which was launched in April 2018, federally administered community housing providers with long-term operating agreements that ended between April 1, 2016 and February 28, 2020 continued to receive the same level of subsidy provided under existing agreements until March 31, 2020.
  • Phase 2 is not an extension or continuation of other programs or of these prior agreements. It provides rental assistance funding from September 1, 2020 until March 31, 2028.
  • Budget 2021 provided an additional $118.2 million over seven years, starting in 2021-22, through the FCHI, to support community housing providers that deliver long-term housing to many of our most vulnerable.
  • Budget 2022 also proposed an additional $1 billion in loans to be reallocated from the Rental Construction Financing Initiative to support co-op housing projects.

Mortgage Insurance Programs

Issue / question

How are we promoting housing affordability and supporting an efficient competitive housing finance market for Canadians?

Suggested response

  • Mr. Speaker, our government is working hard to make sure that homeownership is possible for many Canadians. Through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's (CMHC) Mortgage loan insurance programs, we help Canadians across the country in accessing homeownership while also supporting the stability of the housing market.
  • Saving up a 20% down payment is simply impossible for most Canadians. Mortgage loan insurance is an essential tool enabling Canadians to buy a home at interest rates that are comparable to who have a higher down payment.
  • CMHC also uses mortgage loan insurance to drive housing supply by providing access to preferred interest rates for the construction, purchase, and refinancing of multi-unit residential properties.

Background

  • Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) is committed to working with mortgage industry professionals to help homebuyers meet their housing needs and to provide a full range of mortgage loan insurance products for homeowner and small rental loans.
  • Benefits of CMHC's mortgage loan insurance:
    • Access to homeownership with a minimum down payment of 5%;
    • Access to competitive interest rates;
    • Flexible terms and conditions to meet a variety of financing needs;
    • Products, training, solutions and service available everywhere in Canada;
  • CMHC set its premiums and retains enough capital to absorb any potential losses without the need for government support.
  • MLI Select is an innovative multi-unit mortgage loan insurance product focused on affordability, accessibility, and climate compatibility. It offer access to reduced premiums and longer amortization periods based on the level of commitment to affordability, accessibility, and climate compatibility.

Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act

Issue / question

What is the purpose of the Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act?

Suggested response

  • Mr. Speaker, housing affordability and housing supply are real concerns for many Canadians. That is why our government, as of January 1, 2023, put in place a prohibition for foreign investors purchasing residential property in Canada which aims to ensure that housing is owned by Canadians, and those working to settle permanently in Canada instead of foreign investors.
  • The Act is a temporary response to housing affordability challenges experienced by Canadians, it prevents foreign commercial enterprises and people who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents from purchasing residential property located in urban centres.
  • The Act has a $10,000 fine for anyone who violates it.

Background

  • The Prohibition on the Purchase of Residential Property by Non-Canadians Act prevents non-Canadians from buying residential property in Canada for two years starting on January 1, 2023. The Act and Regulations provide exceptions.
  • The Act defines residential property as buildings with three homes or less, as well as parts of buildings like a semi-detached house or a condominium unit. The law does not prohibit the purchase of larger buildings with multiple units.
  • The Regulations clarify that the prohibition applies to residential property located in a census metropolitan area (CMA) or a census agglomeration (CA). A CMA must have a total population of at least 100,000 of which 50,000 or more must live in the core and a CA must have a core population of at least 10,000, as identified in the Statistics Canada's Standard Geographical Classification 2021.
  • The Act has a $10,000 fine for any non-Canadian or anyone who knowingly assists a non-Canadian and is convicted of violating the Act. If a court finds that a non-Canadian has done this, they may order the sale of the house.
  • This does not apply to non-Canadians who are looking to rent.

Housing-Infrastructure Links (Housing Conditionality)

Issue / question

How will the Government create links between housing and infrastructure?

Suggested response

  • Infrastructure and housing go hand in hand. This means building more housing near reliable transit lines that connect workers to jobs and help us build more complete, inclusive and sustainable communities.
  • Earlier this year, we launched the $4 billion Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) to remove local barriers to building more homes. That flexible funding will also allow communities to upgrade the infrastructure necessary to build denser neighbourhoods.
  • Recently we announced the first agreement under the HAF with the City of London, Ontario, providing $74 million to fast-track the creation of over 2,000 additional housing units over the next three years, and build thousands more in the years to come.
  • Going forward we will work with all orders of government, leveraging infrastructure programming, such as the Canada Permanent Transit Fund and Canada Community-Building Fund, to ensure that these investments lead to the development of housing that is affordable and meets the needs of our growing communities.

Background

  • Since Budget 2022, a major focus for Infrastructure Canada has been working towards the Government's commitment to leverage infrastructure funding in order to advance housing outcomes that can help address the current supply and affordability challenges in a targeted way.
  • The Government of Canada is working to identify opportunities to implement this approach to help future infrastructure programs become housing multipliers.
  • Earlier this year, the Government of Canada announced the launch of the $4 billion Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF). This initiative will help cities, towns, and Indigenous governments unlock new housing supply by speeding up development and approvals, like fixing out-of-date permitting systems, introducing zoning reforms to build more density, or incentivizing development in proximity to public transit.
  • In February 2021, the Prime Minister announced the Canada Public Transit Fund, our country's first permanent public transit funding envelope of $3 billion annually, beginning in 2026-27. Investments in public transit and active transportation support our government's agenda on promoting long-term, sustainable, and inclusive growth – and can help tackle housing affordability challenges.
  • Infrastructure Canada will be developing its next generation of infrastructure funding programs, including the Permanent Public Transit Fund and the Canada Community-Building Fund, with the objective to link these infrastructure investments to advance housing supply and improve affordability across the country. Housing Needs Assessment will be key to this approach to ensure that right kind of supply is built for those who need it the most and maximize housing outcomes in an evidence -based manner.

 

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