Accessibility Tools

Housing

Growth and Renewal for Infrastructure Development Program

Department - Organization: Department of Municipal Affairs
Description: The program supports municipal infrastructure projects that address critical capacity issues, build more accessible and adaptable communities and preserve and expand services for housing. The funding must be used for municipally owned infrastructure projects such as:
  • water, wastewater and stormwater
  • accessibility
  • climate change adaptation
Deadline: October 9, 2025.
Contact: GRID@novascotia.ca
Website: Growth and Renewal for Infrastructure Development Program

Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund 

Department - Organization: Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
Description: Eligible projects include planning or capital projects that would build or upgrade drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, or solid-waste infrastructure to enable more housing. 
Two streams, 1) Direct delivery stream 2) Provincial and territorial agreement stream. Eligible applicants can apply to either stream, or both streams, depending on their infrastructure needs. However, applicants cannot receive funding from both streams for the same project. The direct delivery stream is intended for projects with a high level of readiness to be completed by 2031. Applicants seeking support for long-term infrastructure projects that enable housing are encouraged to apply under the provincial and territorial agreement stream.
Deadline: Direct federal intake closed March, 2025. Provincial intake not yet announced.
Website: Canada Housing Infrastructure Fund

Affordable Housing Fund

Department - Organization: Canadian Mortgage and Housing Association
Description: Provides capital to partnered organizations for new affordable housing and the repair and renewal of existing affordable and community housing. Funds are provided as low-interest and/or forgivable loans and contributions. This fund is available to organizations that have partnered with another organization or level of government and have secured some funding. CMHC may provide up to 100% of the eligible project costs.
Deadline: Continuous 
Contact: Before you begin the application, please contact 1-800-668-2642, contactcentre@cmhc.ca
Website: Affordable Housing Fund

Affordable Housing Innovation Fund

Department - Organization: Canadian Mortgage and Housing Association
Description: The Affordable Housing Innovation Fund supports new ideas that will drive change and disrupt the industry – ideas and approaches that will evolve the affordable housing sector and create the next generation of housing in Canada. Develop and test innovations that incorporate resource and operating efficiencies and are replicable and scalable. Get flexible financial support to test a range of innovations and leverage new partnerships. Facilitate partnerships and encourage participation from diverse stakeholders.
Deadline: Continious 
Example Project: Incremental financing models and incremental building models. Such as the creation of shipping container affordable housing units which met net-zero specifications. The development of tiny homes for homeless veterans.
Website: Affordable Housing and Innovation Fund

Seed Funding

Department - Organization: Canadian Mortgage and Housing Association
Description: CMHC's Seed Funding program provides financial support for individuals or organizations involved in the initial phases of creating an affordable housing project. You can apply for up to $350,000 in interest-free loans and a maximum of $150,000 in non-repayable contributions to assist with early development expenses. These expenses can include things like the formulation of a business plan, creation of preliminary design concepts and conducting environmental site assessments.
Deadline: Continuous intake until fully allocated
Website: Seed Funding

Green Municipal Fund

Department - Organization: Federation of Canadian Municipalities/ Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
Description:  GMF is more than just a funding source—they are a full-service partner in your climate action progress. Grants and loans for all stages. Stackable with other funding sources. Dedicated staff to help you apply. Free resources to help build business cases and improve project outcomes. Grants from $100-500k for up to 50% of eligible costs, combined grant and loan to a maximum of $10M for up to 80% of eligible costs.
  • Community Efficiency Financing: Explore and assess options for a financing program for home energy upgrades within your community. Support project decision-making with a feasibility study.
  • New construction of sustainable affordable housing: Construct a new affordable housing project to a higher environmental performance standard. Finance your new build with capital project funding. Planning, study and pilot project funding is also available.
  • Retrofit of Sustainable Affordable Housing:  Integrate deep energy efficiency measures and onsite renewable energy generation into existing affordable housing units. Finance your retrofit with capital funding. Planning, study and pilot project funding is also available.
Deadline: Continuous
Website: Green Municipal Fund

Funding for Indigenous Housing

Department – Organizations: CMHC Indigenous & the North Housing Solutions, Indigenous Services Canada
Description: A comprehensive suite of financing and grant programs to support housing projects for Indigenous communities. Includes new construction, repair and renewal, shelter and transitional housing, internship wage subsidies, and strategy-driven engagement.
Type: Grants, low-interest loans, forgivable loans, contributions and wage subsidies
Eligible Applicants: Indigenous governments and organizations; municipalities and other partners may be eligible when collaborating with an Indigenous lead applicant
Eligible Projects: Affordable rental housing, mixed-income housing, shelters, renovations, housing planning and strategies
Deadline: Continuous intake

Mitacs Municipal Support

Department - Organization: Mitacs
Description: They offer funding (non repayable grants) and connect municipalities with post-secondary researchers for innovative projects — from affordable housing, green initiatives, transit, infrastructure, climate change — and more — to tackle your most difficult challenges and create vibrant and healthy communities.
  • Non-repayable funding from $6,000 to multi-million.
  • A custom-built research and innovation team to roadmap your project.
  • Scalable, multidisciplinary projects in all areas.
  • Academic/research team to give you the specialized knowledge and skills that you need.
  • Works with you to resolve the major challenges that Canadian municipalities face
Deadline: Continuous intake
Contact: Form on the webpage

Infrastructure for Housing Initiative

Department – Organization: Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB)
Description: The Infrastructure for Housing Initiative (IHI) offers low-cost, long-term financing to municipalities and Indigenous communities to build or expand infrastructure that enables new housing supply. Eligible projects include water, wastewater, stormwater, local transportation, transit, energy, and broadband infrastructure that directly support new housing development. This initiative helps communities overcome up-front infrastructure barriers and accelerate the pace of housing construction.
Type: Loan / Financing (not a grant!)
Eligible Applicants: Municipalities, Indigenous governments
Eligible Projects: Large-scale enabling infrastructure (e.g., water and wastewater systems, roads, bridges, transit, electricity distribution, broadband) that unlock new housing
Deadline: Continuous intake

Affordable Housing Development Program

Department – Organization: Nova Scotia Department of Growth and Development
Description: Supports private developers and community housing organizations to create new affordable rental housing for low-to-moderate income Nova Scotians. Funding is available for new construction, conversion of non-residential buildings, or preservation of chronically vacant multi-unit buildings.
Funding Details: Projects given priority for funding include housing development that:
  • offers rent that’s at least 20% below average market rent
  • offers rental units at affordable rental rates for more than the minimum 15-year affordability period
  • includes at least 5 affordable rental units
  • achieves higher-than-average social, economic or environmental outcomes
  • involves co-operatives, non-profit housing providers or community housing groups
Eligibility: Non-profit societies, charities, community land trusts, housing co-ops or private entities registered in Canada and authorized in Nova Scotia.
Deadline: No fixed deadline; proposals accepted year-round.
How to Apply: Contact an Affordable Housing specialist to discuss your project before applying. Follow the program’s Application Guide to prepare your proposal.
Application Guidelines: Can be found here.

Community Housing Infrastructure and Repair Program

Department – Organization: Nova Scotia Department of Growth and Development
Description: Provides forgivable loans to co-operative and non-profit housing providers for necessary capital repairs to existing affordable housing units in Nova Scotia. Supports repairs and upgrades that preserve community housing assets, improve sustainability and ensure affordable rents for low-income households.
Funding Details:
  • Forgivable loans covering up to 100% of eligible repair costs.
  • Eligible repairs: structural, electrical, plumbing, heating, fire safety, accessibility/barrier-free upgrades, energy efficiency improvements, replacement of kitchens/bathrooms/flooring and restoration of uninhabitable units.
  • Other eligible costs: legal fees, project/property management, environmental and energy audits.
  • Minimum of 30% of project units must be affordable for households below Household Income Limits.
  • Professional project management required unless qualified internal capacity is demonstrated.
Eligibility: Private non-profit housing providers, housing co-operatives, and community land trusts in Nova Scotia.
Deadline: Applications accepted year-round; funding subject to annual budget availability.
How to Apply: Review Application Guide and complete application form with required supporting documents. Submit by mail or email to communityhousing@novascotia.ca. 
Application Guidelines: Can be found here.

Currently Closed. Next Intake TBD:

Sustainable Development Goals Program

Department - Organization:  Employment and Social Development Canada 
Description: In September 2015, Canada and 192 other UN member states adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The 2030 Agenda is a 15-year global framework centred on an ambitious set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This includes areas applicable to municipalities, such as sustainable cities and communities, decent work and economic growth, clean water and sanitation,
Example: By the Governors of Saint-Francis Xavier University: This project addresses the barriers to affordable housing in Nova Scotia. It leads a grassroots community consultation using the SDGs as a blueprint to frame the discussions. It addresses the factors that influence the housing needs of people living in low-income and marginalized populations. 
Deadline:  Closed January 12, 2024
Website: https://www.canada.ca/en/employment-social-development/programs/sustainable-development-goals.html

Research and Knowledge Initiative (Housing & Infrastructure)

Department - Organization: Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
Description: Funds projects related to housing, infrastructure and communities. To improve our understanding of housing and infrastructure to find solutions essential to building and maintain livable, resilient communities.
Example(s): Development of research or data-driven papers, reports or other products (e.g., needs assessments.) Translation of research findings (such as a housing needs assessment)  into policy-relevant analysis and recommendations (e.g., identification of best practices, analysis of case studies).
Deadline: Closed February 9, 2024.
Contact: RKI-IRC@infc.gc.ca 
Website: Research and Knowledge Initiative

Housing Accelerator Fund 

Department - Organization: Canadian Mortgage and Housing Association
Description: New funding is available for previous applicants only.
The Housing Accelerator Fund provides incentive funding to local governments encouraging initiatives aimed at increasing housing supply. It also supports the development of complete, low-carbon and climate-resilient communities that are affordable, inclusive, equitable and diverse. HAF rewards applications that drive change within the local government's control. This can involve making changes to land use planning and development approvals processes, such as amending bylaws or implementing programs that expedite housing permits in both the short and long term. A list of example initiatives can be found in the pre-application material on the website.
Deadline: Closed September 13th, 2024.
Website: Housing Accelerator Fund

Short-Term Rental Enforcement Fund

Department - Organization: Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada
Description: Aims to limit short-term rentals that take away units from the long-term housing market across the country. The program provides grant funding to municipalities and Indigenous communities with existing strict regulatory regimes to support the local enforcement of short-term rental restrictions in an effort to make more long-term housing units available in Canada.
It is a one-time grant funding opportunity. Will support up to 100% of total eligible costs. The maximum of $4.8 million over three years. The minimum of $100,000 over one year.
Deadline: Closed January 24th, 2025.

National Housing Strategy Solutions Labs

Department - Organization: Canadian Mortgage and Housing Association
Description: A solutions lab allows for and provides tools and experts to guide stakeholders to co-develop solution ideas, prioritizes those ideas so they can be prototyped and tested together, and if they work, be implemented. The current theme is "Supporting the Community Housing Sector to Increase and Preserve the Affordable Housing Supply." Proposals are eligible for funding up to $250,000. Municipal agencies among many others are eligible to apply.
Deadline: closed until further notice
Website: National Housing Strategy Solutions Labs

National Housing Strategy Demonstrations Initiative

Department - Organization: Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation
Description: Funding to demonstrate innovative practices, technologies, programs, policies and strategies. For the 2024-2025 funding opportunity, the theme of focus is: “Supporting the Community Housing Sector to Increase Affordable Housing Supply”. The fund prioritizes solutions with potential regional or national impact over localized interventions. Your proposal may be eligible for funding up to $250,000. 
Your proposal should aim to address the following challenges:
  • financing
  • acquisition of land or existing affordable housing
  • development
  • construction
  • operation
  • replication
Deadline: closed until further notice
Website: National Housing Strategy Demonstrations Initiative

 

If you can't find a grant that suits your municipality's needs, please reach out. Similarly, if your municipality is applying to any of the listed opportunities, I am readily available to provide assistance throughout the application process.
 

Mark Ohanyan,
Fund Navigator
mohanyan@nsfm.ca