National Housing Co-Investment Fund: Repair and Renewal

What is the National Housing Co-Investment Fund?

In May 2018, the federal government launched their new National Housing Co-Investment Fund. First announced as part of the National Housing Strategy in November 2017, the Fund will provide about $13.2 billion in direct financial contributions and low-interest loans over the next 10 years.

Projects supported through the Fund are meant to support the federal government’s climate change initiatives and improve accessibility. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has also set targets of:

• 60,000 new units
• 240,000 repaired units
• 4,000 shelter spaces for victims of family violence created or repaired
• 7,000 new affordable units for seniors
• 2,400 new affordable units for people with developmental disabilities

The National Housing Co-Investment Fund will be delivered via two distinct streams of funding:

1)      The New Construction Stream ($7.45 billion)

2)      The Repair and Renewal Stream ($5.72 billion)

Read on to find out more details about the New Construction Stream.  ONPHA has provided more information about the New Construction Stream in a previous Quick Connections article.

THE REPAIR AND RENEWAL STREAM

The Repair and Renewal Stream supports the repair and renewal of existing community and affordable housing that make them more sustainable from a community (mixed-use, mixed-income, accessible, near amenities, services and supports), environmental and financial perspective.

The Stream will provide $3.46 billion in low-interest loans and $2.26 in direct contributions across Canada. Successful projects can receive loans, capital contributions or a combination of both. More details about the length, terms and maximum amounts of loans and contributions can be found in CMHC’s Product Highlight Sheet.

Is My Organization Eligible?

To be eligible for funding through the National Housing Co-Investment Fund, applicants must:

• Secure contributions from another level of government (monetary or in-kind which could include land, accelerated approval processes, waived charges and fees, tax rebates, and other loans)
• Have a minimum of five units or beds and be primarily residential
• Meet certain requirements related to property management experience, construction management experience and credit and repayment history (although alternate arrangements may be considered for newly formed groups)

Does My Organization’s Project Qualify?

Applicants must also meet the following minimum requirements:

• Financial viability: Applicants must demonstrate financial and operational ability to carry the project and to deal with development risks
• Affordability: 30% of units must be less than 80% of the Median Market Rent for at least 20 years
• Energy Efficiency: Retrofit projects must show that they will achieve a minimum 25% decrease in energy use and Greenhouse Gas emissions related to past performance
• Accessibility: 20% of units must meet or exceed accessibility standards and common areas must be barrier fee

Please note: CMHC is encouraging organizations to submit applications even if they think they fall short of minimum requirements as they are still trying to determine the needs that exist in the sector.

Which Applications Will Be Given Priority?

Beyond these minimum requirements, applications will also be prioritized based on a number of criteria including:

• Exceeding affordability, accessibility or energy efficiency criteria
• Partnerships with others
• Proximity to amenities including: transit; grocery stores; parks; pharmacies; community centres; elementary schools; libraries; child care; health care services; and job opportunities
• Supporting priority group or vulnerable populations
• Services to support tenants onsite

How Do I Apply?

Applications for the National Housing Co-Investment Fund will be accepted on a continuous basis and can be accessed through CMHC’s online application portal. You will be asked to answer around 200 questions ranging from basic organizational details to specific details about your project. Applicants can also find out more through CMHC’s Application Guide.

CMHC is accepting applications on an ongoing basis and will review and prioritize applications every 60 days. At the end of each window, they will let applicants know whether their proposed project has been selected for further assessment, retained for the next 60-day prioritization window, or declined. The first 60-day window closed on June 30, 2018, and the next one will close at the end of August, 2018.

Applicants are encouraged to contact their regional Affordable Housing Consultant for more information about the Fund or assistance with preparing applications.

The National Housing Co-Investment Fund will be fully administered through CMHC, but the bilateral agreement signed between Ontario and the federal government in April 2018 indicates that there may be a role for provincial and municipal governments in ensuring projects meet local needs. It is unclear how this will take shape at this point.

What We’ve Heard

ONPHA has heard early concerns from members about limited ability to take on more debt, the unique barriers that will make it difficult for Aboriginal housing providers to take advantage of the Fund, and some of the challenges providers are having with the format of the online application itself. We have communicated this early feedback to CMHC along with suggestions for how these concerns might be addressed. Read the full letter to CMHC here.

Share Your Experience

If your organization has applied for the National Housing Co-Investment Fund, we would like to hear about your experience with the application process. If you have a story you’re willing to share, please get in touch with us at policy@onpha.org or 1-800-297-9144, ext. 109.