APCHQ — Affordable Housing Fund: New Construction - Rapid Housing Sub-Stream

Who is eligible?

• Organizations in the non-profit housing sector
• Organizations in the community housing sector
• Rental housing cooperatives
• Provincial, territorial, Indigenous and municipal governments
• Agencies of provincial, territorial, Indigenous and municipal governments

Who is not eligible

• Private builders and private real estate developers.

Eligible expenses

• Construction and development costs directly related to building shelters, transitional housing and supportive housing (e.g. materials, labour and associated construction services).

Eligible geographic areas

• Organizations located anywhere in Canada, as this is a federal program delivered by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
• Projects situated in rural areas across Canadian provinces and territories.
• Projects located in northern communities in Canada.
• Indigenous-led projects and projects on First Nation lands within Canada.

• Level of affordability offered by the housing units or beds.
• Energy efficiency performance, including alignment with updated codes and higher tiers of the 2020 model codes.
• Accessibility features and overall accessibility outcomes of the project.
• Shovel-readiness of the project and completeness of required documentation.
• Strength of financial and community partnerships, including proximity to transit, childcare and community centres, and support for National Housing Strategy priority and vulnerable groups (with additional priority for projects in communities supported under the Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative and that are part of a Community Encampment Response Plan).

• Step 1: Review program material and plan project
  • Download and review the Application Guide for the Rapid Housing Sub-Stream.
  • Review the Program Highlight Sheet, Required Documentation Checklist, Energy Efficiency Attestation, Accessibility Attestation and Integrity Declaration to understand requirements and documents needed at each stage.
  • Ensure your project concept aligns with the Rapid Housing Sub-Stream objectives and minimum requirements.
• Step 2: Prepare required forms and documentation
  • Complete the Project Assessment Workbook for the Rapid Housing Sub-Stream.
  • Complete the Integrity Declaration form.
  • Complete the Energy Efficiency Attestation form.
  • Complete the Accessibility Attestation form.
  • Gather all items listed in the Required Documentation Checklist for the application stage, including evidence of how ongoing operations and maintenance costs will be covered, where applicable.
• Step 3: Create account and start online application
  • Access CMHC’s online application portal.
  • Sign in or create a new account in the CMHC portal.
  • If you are Indigenous or from a northern community, select “Indigenous or Northern - Affordable Housing Fund” when starting your application.
  • Start a new application for the Affordable Housing Fund: New Construction – Rapid Housing Sub-Stream.
• Step 4: Complete and submit application
  • Fill in all required fields in the online application form with project and proponent information.
  • Upload the completed Project Assessment Workbook, Integrity Declaration, Energy Efficiency Attestation, Accessibility Attestation and other required documents as per the Required Documentation Checklist.
  • Review the application for completeness and accuracy.
  • Submit the application through the CMHC online portal.
• Step 5: Application review and prioritization
  • CMHC reviews the application for readiness, eligibility and completeness.
  • Provide any additional documentation or clarifications requested by CMHC.
  • CMHC assesses and prioritizes the project based on program criteria and available funding.
  • Receive a decision (decline or conditional approval) once the prioritization assessment is completed.
• Step 6: Underwriting after conditional approval
  • If conditionally approved, provide any additional documents specified in the conditional approval letter.
  • Undergo CMHC’s underwriting assessment, including financial viability, minimum requirements, partnerships, shovel readiness, socio-economic outcomes, local community need and available funding.
  • Respond promptly to any CMHC requests for further information or clarification.
• Step 7: Sign funding agreement
  • Review the package of legal documents prepared by CMHC once the application is fully approved.
  • Sign the funding agreement and all required legal documents.
  • Return the signed documents to CMHC within the specified timeframe.
• Step 8: Request first advance and subsequent draws
  • Review the drawdown schedule included in the fully executed agreement to understand the timing and amounts of advances.
  • Before the first advance, submit a draw request to CMHC with the Borrower Certificate, project status certificate, project consultant’s certificate and any other documentation CMHC requires.
  • Ensure all conditions for initial funding, as specified in the agreement, are satisfied.
  • For subsequent advances, provide the required documentation at least 10 days before each drawdown date, in line with the conditions set out in the agreement.

• The Rapid Housing Sub-Stream has a total envelope of $963 million over 5 years, aiming to create 2,400 new units or beds.
• Updated minimum accessibility and energy efficiency requirements took effect in November 2024, with a transition period for projects already in design.
• Projects located in communities supported under the Unsheltered Homelessness and Encampments Initiative (UHEI) and included in a Community Encampment Response Plan receive additional prioritization points.
• For projects on First Nation lands, CMHC now accepts four alternative forms of security in addition to a Ministerial Loan Guarantee (MLG).