Housing Supply Challenge

Targeting housing experts and professionals, the Challenge aims to remove or reduce barriers that hinder housing supply. $300 million in funding will be awarded over 5 years.

Round 5: Level Up is now open.

Thank you for your interest in the Housing Supply Challenge.

Find out who made the final stage from Round 1

Find out who made the final stage from Round 2

Find out who made the short list from Round 3

Find out who made the short list from Round 4

Round 1: Data Round is now completed.

Round 2: Getting Started is currently being implemented.

Round 3: Northern Round is currently being implemented.

Round 4: Building for the Future is now closed.

What is the Housing Supply Challenge?

The Housing Supply Challenge invites citizens, stakeholders, and experts to propose solutions to the barriers to new housing supply. The challenge will distribute $300 million in funding over 5 years.

Successful submissions that address barriers to supply will receive funding to prototype or incubate their proposal. Following the prototype stage, a number of selected finalists will share a pool of additional funding to implement their proposed solutions.

Each round awards proposals that address housing supply barriers such as building timelines, construction productivity, and improving data on land availability.

The challenge will also:

enhance community engagement
inspire others to scale or adapt ideas for national impact
cultivate collaboration and partnerships

Participation in the challenge is open to:

For-profit and not-for-profit organizations
Indigenous organizations and groups
Canadian post-secondary institutions
Government (provincial, territorial, municipal, local and regional)
Teams composed of a variety of participants

*All applicants must be affiliated with a legally incorporated organization.

Round 1: Data Driven Landing Page

Learn more about Data Driven – Data solutions for informed decision-making
(Round 1 application process closed on January 20, 2021).

Round 2: Getting Started Landing Page

Learn more about Getting Started: Predevelopment Processes
(Round 2 application process closed on August 25, 2021).

Round 3: Northern Access Landing Page

Learn more about the Northern Access Round
(Round 3 application process closed on June 23, 2022).

Round 4: Building for the Future Landing Page

Learn more about the Building for the Future
(Round 4 application process closed on April 13, 2023).

Future Rounds*

Level-Up (2023)

*launch dates are TBC, and round topics may be subject to change

Transcript

00:01
[Aerial video of city neighbourhood showing single family homes and high-rise buildings. Text, matching the narration, appears on a translucent overlay.]

[Narrator] Have you heard about the Housing Supply Challenge?

00:05
[Text, matching the narration, appears on solid background.]

[Narrator] We're calling on communities, we're calling on organizations, we're calling on experts from across the country…

00:10
[Image of a city neighbourhood populated with high- and low-rise residential units. Text matching the narration appears on a translucent overlay.]

[Narrator] …to propose innovative solutions…

00:14
[Video of a multi-story unit construction site and three male construction workers. Text, matching the narration, appears on a translucent overlay.]

[Narrator] …to address barriers to the creation of new housing supply in Canada.

00:19
[Text, matching the narration, appears on solid background.]
[Narrator] With up to $300 million in funding available…

00:22
[Split screen showing three images with different coloured translucent overlays including: an image of a multi-story unit construction site; image of construction foreperson showing a high-rise apartment construction site to a client; an image of an architect, demonstrating an architectural model.]

00:24
[Text, matching the narration, appears on a solid background.]

[Narrator] …there are multiple rounds, encouraging new ideas to help more Canadians find an affordable place to call home.

00:32
[Text, matching the narration, appears on a solid background.]

[Narrator] The challenge will…

00:35
[Close-up video of a table top covered with architectural diagrams and computer tablet. An unseen architect draws on the plans in pencil then taps the tablet. Text, matching the narration, appears on a translucent overlay covering the right third of screen.]

[Narrator] …address barriers to housing supply and affordability…

00:39
[Video of three men and two women, wearing matching green t-shirts, working together to raise the frame of a house under construction. Text, matching the narration, appears on a translucent overlay covering the right third of screen.]

[Narrator] …enhance community engagement…

00:44
[Video of two seated men and one woman discussing the documents on the table between them. Text, matching the narration, appears on a translucent overlay covering the right third of screen.]

[Narrator] …cultivate partnerships and encourage collaboration

00:49
[Video of a man and woman talking and embracing. Text, matching the narration, appears on a translucent overlay covering the right third of screen.]

[Narrator] …inspire others to scale and adapt for a Canada-wide impact.

00:56
[Text, matching the narration, appears on a solid background.]

[Narrator] Sign up for updates and be the first to hear about the launch of each round.
C-M-H-C-dot-c-a slash housing supply challenge.

01:01
[National Housing Strategy logo, Canada wordmark and CMHC logo appear along the bottom of the screen.]

Led by CMHC, the challenge is part of Impact Canada in collaboration with the Impact and Innovation Unit in the Privy Council Office and Infrastructure Canada.

NOTE: Visit the CMHC Housing Supply Challenge Support Program if you want additional support with your application. Our partners at Evergreen are available to answer any questions about the application process, clarify eligibility requirements and provide one-on-one support.