Social Housing Apartment Retrofit Program (SHARP): Funding Breakdown

As part of Ontario’s Climate Change Action Plan, the province has made targeted investments, as well as future commitments, towards energy efficiency retrofits for the social housing sector.

Last year, the province invested approximately $92 million into this purpose. The vast majority of the funding ($82 million) was invested through the Social Housing Apartment Retrofit Program (SHARP) which supported retrofits in multi-unit non-profit, local housing corporation or co-op buildings of 150 units or more. Recipients were able to use these funds for initiatives such as installing energy efficient boilers, windows and lighting, and insulating outer walls or mechanical systems.

According to information shared with ONPHA by the Ministry of Housing, non-profit housing providers and local housing corporations received a combined total of $74, 962,160.77, which represents approximately 90% of the total SHARP investment.

More specific details about the 2016 SHARP investments can be found below:

The 26 housing providers that received SHARP funding used it for a variety of different energy efficiency initiatives. Some of the top initiatives included: advanced automation of HVAC systems; window and door replacements; LED lighting retrofits; and replacing boilers.

Looking Ahead

The Ontario government has indicated that they will continue to support social housing energy efficiency retrofits through revenues generated from their new Cap and Trade initiative. In their most recent budget, the province committed to allocating $85 million towards this purpose over 2017-18. There have been no further announcements about this funding yet, but recent reports on early outcomes from the Cap and Trade initiative might hint at positive impacts for our sector. Be sure to stay tuned to ONPHA e-alerts for important updates related to this.