Unlock Affordable Housing Upgrades with the Canada Greener Affordable Housing Program
The Canada Greener Affordable Housing program is designed to help affordable housing providers complete deep energy retrofits on existing multi-unit residential buildings. The program aims to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to Canada's goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
Eligibility Criteria
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Eligible Projects:
- Mixed income rental, community housing, affordable rental housing, Indigenous community housing, shelters, transitional and supportive housing, and single-room occupancy.
- Must be primarily residential with at least 5 units or beds and be at least 20 years old (with some flexibility for Indigenous, Northern, or remote organizations).
- Non-residential components must not exceed 30% of the total gross floor space.
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Eligible Applicants:
- Community housing providers (non-profit housing organizations, public housing agencies, rental co-operatives), Indigenous governments and organizations, and provincial, territorial, and municipal governments.
- Private market housing organizations are not eligible.
Energy Efficiency Targets
To qualify for Retrofit Funding, projects must aim for:
- A 70% reduction in energy consumption relative to pre-retrofit performance.
- An 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions relative to pre-retrofit performance.
Funding Details
The program offers two key funding streams:
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Pre-Retrofit Funding:
- Purpose: Supports activities necessary to prepare for a Retrofit Funding application, such as energy audits, energy modelling studies, and building condition assessments.
- Funding: Up to $130,000 per project.
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Retrofit Funding:
- Purpose: Provides financial support for deep energy retrofits to significantly improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
- Funding: Up to $170,000 per unit, combining low-interest repayable and forgivable loans. Forgivable loans are capped at $85,000 per unit or 80% of eligible retrofit costs (whichever is lower).
Funding Deadline
The Canada Greener Affordable Housing program is accepting applications on a continuous basis until the available funding has been fully committed. There is no specific deadline mentioned, but it's advisable to apply as early as possible since funding is allocated on a first-come, first-served basis until the budget is exhausted.