The National Housing Co-Investment Fund – Housing Repair and Renewal Stream is open to:
- community housing providers (i.e. Public or private non-profit housing organizations or rental co-operatives)
- municipalities
- provinces and territories
- Indigenous governments and organizations
- private sector
The following projects can be considered for funding:
- existing community and affordable housing
- urban indigenous community housing
- mixed use market / affordable rental
- shelters
- transitional and supportive housing
Minimum Requirements
All projects must:
- have a minimum of 5 units/beds (including scattered units/properties)
- have primary use as residential
- meet minimum requirements for partnerships, financial viability, affordability, energy efficiency, and accessibility (as outlined below)
Partnerships
Partnerships are a central feature of the National Housing Co-Investment Fund. Partnerships maximize investments, ensure coordination of efforts and remove barriers to the development process. Partners will be required to contribute to the project (monetary or in-kind) and the level of contribution may vary from project to project.
Projects must have support from another level of government (such as municipalities, Provinces and/or Territories, Indigenous Government) to ensure a coordination of investments. Support can be financial in nature (monetary or in-kind) or in the form of a letter demonstrating support of the project. For financial support (capital or operating), funding would need to be confirmed at the assessment stage prior to receiving a final approval from CMHC.
Financial Viability
Applicants will have to:
- demonstrate their financial and operational ability to carry the project
- provide evidence of the financial viability of the proposed project itself
- have the capacity to deal with development risks, such as cost over-runs and delays in construction
Affordability
Applicants must:
- keep rents for a minimum of 30% of units below 80% of the Median Market Rental rate (as described in the most recent CMHC Rental Market Survey for the market and unit type in question)
- commit for a minimum of 20 years.
Accessibility:
Proponents will be expected to meet the minimum accessibility requirement that:
- 20% of all units within the project meet or exceed accessibility standards as prescribed in Table A
- access to the project and its common areas is barrier free
Learn more about accessibility requirements.
Energy Efficiency:
Existing projects are required to achieve a 25% decrease in energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions relative to past performance levels.
Note: Once your project is selected, we require a confirmation of the energy efficiency and GHG emissions reduction by a qualified energy professional. Click here to learn more about Energy Efficiency requirements.
When your project is selected to proceed, you may also wish to apply for Solutions Labs or Demonstrations to allow you to overcome barriers to your projects or capitalize on opportunities to improve performance and enhance outcomes.
Urgent Repairs
For urgent repairs that are required to maintain the safety of occupants and/or viability of housing, flexibility in the minimum requirements for Energy Efficiency and Accessibility will be considered.
Examples of urgent repairs could include but are not limited to:
- balcony railings and slabs,
- exterior windows and doors,
- unstable cladding/siding systems,
- fire safety systems,
- building envelope to address water leakage, moisture, mould/bacteria problems,
- structural systems including concrete, steel and wood,
- leaking or failed potable and sewage water systems,
- faulty heating and ventilating systems,
- faulty electrical systems,
- correcting flood and storm damage,
- gas, water or electricity supplies,
- elevator and lift repairs.
If you have a project that is considered urgent or would like more information on submitting an urgent repair application, please contact your local Affordable Housing Specialist for assistance. Our specialists are available to help assess your needs, identify possible solutions, provide information on how CMHC can support your goals and help you navigate our application process.