OTTAWA,
ON, Aug. 2, 2024 /CNW/ - To help tackle
the housing crisis, we need to change how housing gets built in
communities. With a greater focus on higher density housing,
student housing, homes near transit, and affordable housing, we are
going to get more homes built for Canadians at prices they can
afford.
Today, the Government of Canada along with 30 communities across the
country announced that they reached an agreement to fast track a
combined total of over 1,700 housing units over the next three
years. This work will help spur the construction of a more than
14,700 homes over the next decade.
These agreements will provide over $68
million to eliminate barriers to building the housing we
need, faster across these communities.
The communities are:
- Aitchelitz First Nation, BC
- Boston Bar First Nation, BC
- City of New Westminster,
BC
- District of Saanich, BC
- Elizabeth Metis Settlement, AB
- Fort Simpson Metis Nation, NWT
- Jean Marie River First Nation,
NWT
- Kitasoo Xai'xais Nation, BC
- Lheidli T'enneh First Nation, BC
- Millbrook First Nation, NS
- Municipality of Emerson
Franklin, MB
- District of Ucluelet, BC
- Treaty One First Nations,
MB
- Pictou Landing First Nation,
NS
- Piikani Nation, AB
- Rural Municipality of Brokenhead,
MB
- Seabird Island Band, BC
- Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, MB
- Skowkale First Nation, BC
- Sun Peaks Mountain Resort Municipality, BC
- Town of Fogo Island, NL
- Town of Grand Falls-Windsor,
NL
- City of Duncan, BC
- District of Lake Cowichan,
BC
- Town of Tofino, BC
- Tsal'alh First Nation, BC
- Tsawwassen First Nation, BC
- Ulkatcho First Nation, BC
- Village of Radium Hot Springs,
BC
- Yakweakwioose Nation, BC
The Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) is helping cut red tape and
fast track at least 100,000 permitted new homes over the first
three years, which communities estimate will lead to the creation
of over 750,000 permitted new homes for people across Canada over the next decade. It asks for
innovative action plans from local governments, and once approved,
provides upfront federal funding to ensure the timely building of
new homes, as well as additional federal funds upon delivering
results. Local governments are encouraged to be bold in their
approaches, which could include accelerating project timelines,
allowing increased housing density, and encouraging affordable
housing units.
In Budget 2024, the federal government committed an additional
$400 million to incentivize more
local governments to fast-track home construction, resulting in an
additional 12,000 new homes permitted over the next four years.
The Government of Canada is
making life more affordable for Canadians – and housing is key to
our work. We will continue to work with provincial and territorial
governments, municipalities, and our Indigenous partners to keep
building more homes for Canadians, faster.
Quotes:
"The Housing Accelerator Fund is helping make it easier to build
the homes that Canadians need at prices they can afford. We are
proud to announce partnerships with 30 communities today that will
result in over 14,700 homes over the next decade. There is
more work to do, but this program is dramatically changing how
communities build homes in this country. We will keep working with
cities, mayors, Indigenous partners, and all levels of government,
to end the housing crisis."– The Honourable Sean Fraser,
Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
Quick facts:
- Launched in March 2023, the
Housing Accelerator Fund is a $4.4
billion initiative from the Government of Canada that will run until 2027-28. The first
round of funding totalled $4 billion,
and Budget 2024 added an additional $400
million to this program.
- The Housing Accelerator Fund is part of Canada's National Housing Strategy, an $82+
billion plan to give more Canadians a place to call home. Progress
on programs and initiatives are updated quarterly at
www.placetocallhome.ca. The Housing Funding Initiatives Map shows
affordable housing projects that have been developed.
- As of March 2024, the federal
government has committed $50.97
billion to support the creation of over 146,000 units and
the repair of over 286,000 units. These measures prioritize those
in greatest need, including seniors, Indigenous Peoples, people
experiencing or at risk of homelessness, and women and children
fleeing violence.
- Please visit the Housing Accelerator Fund website for more
details.
- For the additional funding through Budget 2024, the Government
of Canada will negotiate an
agreement with Quebec that will
further accelerate housing and provide more funding for affordable
housing in the province.
- On April 12, 2024, the federal
government released Solving the housing crisis: Canada's Housing Plan, supported by new
investments proposed in Budget 2024.
Additional Information:
- Growing communities and building more homes, faster | Prime
Minister of Canada (pm.gc.ca)
- Canada's Housing Plan | Prime
Minister of Canada (pm.gc.ca)
- To find out more about the National Housing Strategy, please
visit www.placetocallhome.ca
Backgrounder
Community
|
Funding
|
Expected
units over 3
years
|
Expected units
over 10 years
|
Aitchelitz First
Nation, BC
|
$280,520
|
5
|
22
|
Boston Bar First
Nation, BC
|
$520,000
|
8
|
65
|
City of New
Westminster, BC
|
$11,428,628
|
311
|
2734
|
District of Saanich,
BC
|
$14,936,101
|
513
|
4766
|
Elizabeth Metis
Settlement, AB
|
$850,975
|
13
|
72
|
Fort Simpson Metis
Nation, NWT
|
$580,000
|
8
|
20
|
Jean Marie River
First Nation, NWT
|
$885,000
|
15
|
32
|
Kitasoo Xai'xais
Nation, BC
|
$1,089,122
|
21
|
122
|
Lheidli T'enneh
First Nation, BC
|
$757,000
|
11
|
225
|
Millbrook First
Nation, NS
|
$2,482,000
|
38
|
110
|
Municipality of
Emerson Franklin, MB
|
$1,925,676
|
49
|
352
|
District of
Ucluelet, BC
|
$2,095,293
|
65
|
918
|
Treaty One Nations,
MB
|
$5,315,182
|
88
|
900
|
Pictou Landing First
Nation, NS
|
$531,000
|
9
|
34
|
Piikani Nation,
AB
|
$2,301,000
|
39
|
166
|
Rural Municipality
of Brokenhead, MB
|
$664,200
|
20
|
130
|
Seabird Island Band,
BC
|
$2,992,000
|
50
|
251
|
Sioux Valley Dakota
Nation, MB
|
$1,552,000
|
25
|
120
|
Skowkale First
Nation, BC
|
$368,000
|
6
|
24
|
Sun Peaks Mountain
Resort
Municipality, BC
|
$1,525,799
|
33
|
350
|
Town of Fogo Island,
NL
|
$798,300
|
18
|
116
|
Town of Grand
Falls-Windsor, NL
|
$4,606,144
|
145
|
1117
|
City of Duncan,
BC
|
$2,637,814
|
73
|
1060
|
District of Lake
Cowichan, BC
|
$885,750
|
20
|
75
|
Town of Tofino,
BC
|
$1,487,175
|
34
|
514
|
Tsal'alh First
Nation, BC
|
$1,065,000
|
15
|
52
|
Tsawwassen First
Nation, BC
|
$2,480,000
|
42
|
210
|
Ulkatcho First
Nation, BC
|
$455,000
|
7
|
74
|
Village of Radium
Hot Springs, BC
|
$613,445
|
16
|
54
|
Yakweakwioose
Nation, BC
|
$208,000
|
4
|
17
|
Total:
|
$68,316,123
|
1701
|
14,702
|
SOURCE Government of Canada