Closed
Source verified August 5, 2026
Co-op Housing Development Program
Supports affordable rental co-operative housing
Funding available
Up to 100% of project cost
Deadline
Closed
Location
Canada
Who can apply
New and existing non-profit housing co-operatives, either stand-alone co-operatives or in partnership with another non-profit.
See full eligibility
Overview
The Co-op Housing Development Program provides $1.5 billion in forgivable and low-interest repayable loans to support affordable rental co-operative housing in Canada. It backs new non-profit co-operative housing projects, with funding for residential space and, in mixed projects, non-residential costs.
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At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Increase social or community impact
- Reduce environmental footprint
- Ensure financial sustainability
Eligible Funding
- Up to 100% of project cost
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Canada
Legal structures
- Non-financial cooperative
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Rural or Northern Residents
- Startups
- Women
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- New construction of residential development, including densification projects.
- Conversion of non-residential to residential projects.
- Projects that create or purchase net new housing units regardless of tenure.
Documents Needed
- Required Documentation Checklist (PDF)
- Viability Assessment Workbook (XLS)
- Integrity Declaration (PDF)
- Energy Efficiency Attestation (PDF)
- Accessibility Attestation (PDF)
Official resources
Program guide
Application form
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- New and existing non-profit housing co-operatives, either stand-alone co-operatives or in partnership with another non-profit.
- Student housing co-operatives.
- Senior's housing co-operatives.
- Indigenous co-operatives, including those in partnership with Indigenous governments and organizations.
- Indigenous governments and governing bodies, Indigenous governments and organizations, tribal councils, and Indigenous housing providers both on- and off-Nation; and Land Trusts, in partnership with a non-profit housing co-operative.
Who is not eligible
- Homeownership or equity co-operatives.
- Nursing homes.
- Projects or units with life-leases.
Eligible expenses
- Soft costs incurred during construction.
- Pre-development and pre-construction soft costs, including land acquisition, environmental site assessments, and cost consultant reports, may be approved retroactively based on invoices.
- Closing costs related to the loan.
- Costs related to the exploration or establishment of the co-op model in Indigenous communities, including legal fees, workshops, and focus groups.
- Hard costs relating to the project that are reasonable, prudent, and necessary to advancing the project.
Ineligible Costs and Activities
- Homeownership co-operatives.
- Equity co-operatives.
- Nursing homes.
- Projects or units with life-leases.
Eligible geographic areas
- Canada.
- Large urban centres.
- Small to medium urban centres.
- Rural, remote, northern, and Indigenous communities.
- On-reserve and off-reserve.
Selection criteria
- Financial viability.
- Cost per unit.
- Project size.
- Shovel readiness.
- Energy efficiency, project location, affordability, and support for priority groups and Indigenous-led projects.
How to apply
- Fill out the application form to obtain support from the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada, as applications can no longer be submitted through the portal.
Processing and Agreement
- Once received, your application will be reviewed for readiness, eligibility, and completeness.
- Complete and eligible applications will be prioritized within 30 days of the application window closing.
- Selected files will receive a Conditional Approval within 30 days of being selected.
- You need to submit documents required for underwriting within 90 days or the application will be withdrawn from consideration.
- After conditional approval, underwriting can take up to 60 days once all necessary documentation is received, and once approved, CMHC prepares your package of loan documents, typically within 40 days, and you have 30 days to accept and return the signed loan documents to CMHC.
Additional information
- The program was co-designed with the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada and the co-operative housing sector.
- CMHC and Build Canada Homes are working closely together to ensure no co-op proposal is overlooked.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Co-op Housing Development Program Program
What is the Co-op Housing Development Program?
The Co-op Housing Development Program provides $1.5 billion in forgivable and low-interest repayable loans to support affordable rental co-operative housing in Canada. It backs new non-profit co-operative housing projects, with funding for residential space and, in mixed projects, non-residential costs.
How much funding can be received?
Co-op Housing Development Program Funds up to 100% of admissible expenses.
Who is eligible for the Co-op Housing Development Program program?
To be eligible for the Co-op Housing Development Program program, you must:
The project must operate as rental co-operative housing.
The project must meet minimum unit requirements for its location type.
What expenses are eligible under Co-op Housing Development Program?
New construction of residential development, including densification projects.
Conversion of non-residential to residential projects.
Projects that create or purchase net new housing units regardless of tenure.
Who can I contact for more information about the Co-op Housing Development Program?
You can contact Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) by email at contactcentre@cmhc.ca or by phone at 1-800-668-2642.
Where is the Co-op Housing Development Program available?
The Co-op Housing Development Program program is available across Canada.
Is the Co-op Housing Development Program a grant, loan, or tax credit?
Co-op Housing Development Program is a Loans and Capital investments