What is the Housing-Enabling Core Servicing Stream?

The Housing-Enabling Core Servicing stream is a funding program under the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program, dedicated to supporting municipalities in their efforts to build, maintain, and repair municipal roads, bridges, and culverts. With a total of $400 million available over three years, this program is set to transform communities by enabling the construction and rehabilitation of critical infrastructure that paves the way for new housing developments.

Why is This Program Important?

As municipalities face increasing pressure to expand housing options, the need for strong infrastructure becomes ever more apparent. Safe and reliable roads and bridges are not just about convenience; they are about connectivity, access, and the ability to support growing communities. By funding these essential projects, the Housing-Enabling Core Servicing stream helps municipalities overcome financial barriers, ensuring that essential infrastructure is in place to support new and existing residents.

Who Can Apply?

The program is open to all municipalities that own road and bridge assets. This means that whether you’re a large urban center or a smaller rural community, if you have infrastructure that can enable housing development, you may be eligible for funding. However, municipalities with New Deal agreements are not eligible to apply, either as a primary or co-applicant.

What Projects are Eligible?

To qualify for funding, projects must:

• Enable housing development
• Include a capital component and may also include pre-construction planning and design work
• Be new construction, rehabilitation/repair, reconstruction, or replacement
• Have a clear start and end date, with design and planning phases either in progress or completed
• Meet all relevant provincial regulatory requirements
• Not have started construction before applying

Eligible projects can include any road and bridge asset physically connected to housing developments, including site servicing costs related to these assets.

How Much Funding is Available?

The Housing-Enabling Core Servicing stream offers substantial financial support:

• Up to $20 million per eligible project for single municipalities
• Up to $60 million for joint applications involving multiple municipalities

Joint projects are highly encouraged, as they offer the opportunity for larger funding amounts while fostering collaboration between municipalities. For projects benefiting Indigenous communities, municipalities can still apply, but these do not qualify for multiplied funding as in joint applications.

How to Apply

The application process is straightforward but requires careful attention to detail. Interested municipalities must register on Transfer Payment Ontario (TPON) and submit their completed application forms, along with all supporting documentation, by 4:59 p.m. (EST) on October 18, 2024.

Selection Process

Applications will be evaluated based on several criteria, including:

• Technical merit of the roads and bridges involved
• The project’s impact on housing development
• Readiness of the project for execution
• The financial capacity of the municipality

Projects that are further along in the planning and design stages will be given priority, as will joint applications that demonstrate a significant impact on housing development across municipalities.