Grant and Funding Programs Offered by Heartland Housing Foundation (HHF)

Heartland Housing Foundation (HHF) is a not-for-profit housing management body that provides affordable and near-market housing solutions in Strathcona County, the City of Fort Saskatchewan and Beaver County in Alberta. HHF owns and operates 12 properties, including seniors lodges with supportive services, rent-geared-to-income apartments for older adults, and near-market units for all ages. Beyond operating buildings, HHF plays a direct funding role by administering provincially funded rent assistance benefits for households facing housing affordability challenges.

As the local delivery agent for the provincial Rent Assistance Benefit and Temporary Rent Assistance Benefit, HHF evaluates applications and distributes ongoing rent subsidies to eligible tenants. These programs provide short-term support for households experiencing temporary income loss and longer-term assistance for those with sustained affordability issues. HHF’s annual reports highlight the number of households supported each year and describe how advocacy with the provincial government has led to increased rent benefit allocations in its service area.

The foundation’s 2024–2028 strategic plan frames its work around four priorities: managing properties, improving housing supply, delivering support services and building a thriving workplace. In practice, this means combining capital development projects, like the net-zero Muriel Ross Abdurahman Court and the planned Fir Street development, with ongoing program delivery such as rent assistance benefits and on-site resident services. While detailed eligibility criteria for subsidies are provided on dedicated program pages, HHF emphasizes financial stewardship, operational excellence and transparent reporting through its public annual reports.

HHF manages performance using indicators tied to occupancy, resident satisfaction, maintenance response times and financial results. Its programs are designed to maintain stable tenancies, especially for seniors and low- to moderate-income households, by aligning rental rates and subsidies with local market conditions and available public funding.

Heartland Housing Foundation primarily serves seniors, individuals and families with low or moderate incomes, and households experiencing temporary income disruption. Through its housing portfolio and rent assistance programs, HHF supports more than 900 households and channels significant public funds into rental subsidies across its service region. The organization works closely with municipal partners and the Province of Alberta to expand the supply of attainable housing, including new below-market rental developments and future projects on municipally granted land.

By combining property management, program administration and advocacy for additional public investment, HHF acts as an important intermediary between government housing funds and local residents, helping to translate provincial and municipal housing policies into concrete, funded housing solutions on the ground.