How non-profit provider brings a community focus to affordable housing

Horizon Housing Society: Pineridge Project in Calgary, AB

In nearly every part of the country, both private and non-profit developers have begun taking a more community-focused approach to affordable housing. In Calgary, for example, the new 65-unit Pineridge development by Horizon Housing used an integrated, mixed-income model to offer its residents both affordable rental housing, as well as a safe, centrally-located and thoroughly inclusive community.

Fast facts

• Project: Pineridge
• Location: 6624 25th Avenue NE, Calgary, AB
• Developer: Horizon Housing Society
• Architect: IBI Group
• Builder: Westcor Construction Ltd.
• Building type: Mixed-income low-rise building
• Units: 65 rental units (24 one-bedrooms, 39 two-bedrooms and 2 three-bedrooms)
• Tenants: Medium-and low-income families and individuals
• Cost to build: $15.9 million
• Funding partners: CMHC Rental Construction Financing initiative (RCFi) and SEED funding ($15.05 million); equity investment ($850,000)
• Construction timeline: July 2020 – Winter 2021

More than bricks and mortar

“Home is more than bricks and mortar,” says Aaron Morris, Horizon Housing’s Director of Development and Strategy. “It’s also the support systems we build and the communities that we feel connected to.”

“Home is more than bricks and mortar. It’s also the support systems we build and the communities that we feel connected to.”

Horizon Housing has been building affordable, sustainable and inclusive homes for more than 45 years. Located next to Calgary’s Pinecliff Park, the Pineridge project is within walking distance to schools, grocery stores, transit, green spaces and other amenities. This makes it an ideal location for residents of all ages and backgrounds to engage in the local community.

A diverse and inclusive community

The goal for the project was to create affordable rental housing for Calgary’s most vulnerable families and individuals. This includes Indigenous persons, seniors, newcomers and refugees, youth who are leaving foster care, families living below the poverty line and people who are exiting homelessness, recovering from addiction, fleeing domestic violence or living with a disability.

“According to the Calgary Homeless Foundation’s 2018 Point-in-Time Count, every night, more than 2,900 Calgarians are homeless,” says Horizon’s Donor Relations Associate, Che Greywall. “The City of Calgary’s latest Housing Needs Assessment also predicts that, by the year 2025, approximately 100,000 households across the city will be in core housing need.”

To help meet this growing need, Pineridge uses a mixed-income model that provides greater benefits for both residents and the surrounding community.

“A mixed-income model gives people the opportunity to participate fully in their communities,” Aaron explains. “It also helps reduce the stigma vulnerable groups may otherwise experience.”

“A mixed-income model gives people the opportunity to participate fully in their communities. It also helps reduce the stigma vulnerable groups may otherwise experience.”

“From a practical position, in a mixed-income model, higher rents for some of the units can also help offset the cost of other units for those who really need it. Ultimately, this lets us build more diverse, inclusive and thriving communities.”

Affordable, accessible and environmentally friendly

Because of the mixed-income approach, the rents at Pineridge will be at least 10% below market rates for the area. At least 13 units will maintain rents at or below 70% of 30% of the Median Household Income in Calgary for a minimum of 21 years.

Horizon also wanted to make sure that Pineridge would be accessible to everyone. This meant incorporating features like:

• common kitchen, patio and office spaces to foster connections between residents
• barrier-free common areas
• secure underground parking and bike storage
• accessible and adaptable design, including seven fully accessible units, two universally designed units and two units that are adaptable to the needs of people with a disability

The team also implemented several energy-efficiency features to reduce energy consumption by 22.5% and cut greenhouse gas emissions by 17.9% relative to the 2015 National Energy Code.

The power of partnership

To fund the project, Horizon Housing raised $850,000 through its own fundraising efforts. The rest of the $15.9 million budget came from CMHC SEED funding and the Rental Construction Financing initiative (RCFi).

“Over the past year, we’ve seen just how critical housing is to the wellbeing of people in general, and vulnerable people in particular,” says Martina Jileckova, CEO of Horizon Housing. “Thanks to CMHC and the City of Calgary, we are excited to be building quality homes that will offer more sustainable and affordable housing options for Calgarians of all ages and life circumstances.”

“Over the past year, we’ve seen just how critical housing is to the wellbeing of people in general, and vulnerable people in particular. Thanks to CMHC and the City of Calgary, we are excited to be building quality homes that will offer more sustainable and affordable housing options for Calgarians of all ages and life circumstances.”