Federal funding helps build more homes faster in Calgary

The Government of Canada and the City of Calgary announced today that they have reached an agreement to accelerate the construction of more than 6,800 housing units over the next three years. This work will help stimulate the construction of more than 35,000 homes over the next decade.

The agreement, under the Housing Acceleration Fund (HAF), will provide more than $228 million in funding to support seven initiatives ranging from priority and expedited approvals, to zoning bylaw amendments that allow for more missing middle rows, townhomes and incomplete housing in existing neighborhoods. To develop comprehensive and affordable housing. Over the past two years, Calgary has seen a significant increase in its housing growth, and HAF’s investment is expected to maintain this trend.

Through the HAF, the federal government aims to Cut red tape and accelerate the construction of at least 100,000 new homes for people in towns, cities and Indigenous communities across Canada. HAF requests innovative action plans from local governments and, once approved, provides upfront funding to ensure new homes are built in a timely manner, as well as additional funds when results are achieved. Local governments are encouraged to think big and be bold in their approaches, which can include accelerating project timelines, allowing for increased housing density, and encouraging affordable housing units.

Quotes:

“Through federal funding and federal leadership, we are changing how cities allow housing to be built in their municipalities. Today’s announcement will help stimulate more than 6,800 new housing permits for the City of Calgary. By working with cities, mayors and all levels of government, we help build more homes for Canadians at prices they can afford. – The Honorable Sean Fraser, Minister for Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

“Our federal government is working with municipalities across the country to incentivize the construction of more housing. The City of Calgary has been a supportive partner in this important work, and our collaboration will continue to make housing affordable in our city.” – George Chahal, Member of Parliament for Calgary Skyview

“Just weeks ago, Calgary Council approved a Housing Strategy that sets out a clear path to address our city’s urgent and growing housing needs. This major investment demonstrates that our federal partners are eager to enable the city to partner with non-market and private developers to quickly create new homes.” – Jyoti Gondek, Mayor of Calgary

quick Facts:

· Through the Downtown Housing Accelerator, the City of Calgary expects to support 1,050 new units created through office space conversions in line with the Downtown Strategy and Plan.

· Over the next three years, HAF will stimulate the construction of 400 housing units on city-owned land near transit stations.

· Other initiatives undertaken by the City of Calgary include:

o Simplify approvals

o Stimulate secondary wings

o Strengthen missing-intermediate land use zones, including adding a new residential-oriented zoning (H-GO) and exploring changes to the residential-oriented infill (R-GC) zoning to allow for more flexible, missing-intermediate options such as homes and townhomes.

o Building comprehensive, equitable and affordable housing programs

o Strengthening mobilization in established areas

· Launched in March 2023, HAF is a $4 billion initiative of the Government of Canada and runs until 2026-2027. The HAF is part of Canada’s National Housing Strategy (NHS), an $82 billion plan that has already committed to creating and rehabilitating more than 400,000 units. Progress on programs and initiatives within the NHS is updated quarterly in www.placetocallhome.ca. the Map of housing finance initiatives Showcasing affordable housing projects developed through the NHS.

· Since the establishment of the NHS, the Government of Canada has allocated more than $36.82 billion to support the construction of more than 113,467 units and the repair of more than 126,011 units. These measures prioritize people most in need, including older people, indigenous peoples, people experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and women and children fleeing violence.

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