Affordable Housing Now provides eligible projects with support through two funding streams: Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Grants and Capital Grants.
The Affordable Housing Now Program provides support for the development of affordable rental housing that is also eligible through a funding program of the National Housing Strategy.
Eligibility
Eligible organizations
- Non-profit organizations
- For-profit organizations
- Indigenous governments and organizations
Eligible projects
- Social housing (rent-geared-to-income)
- Mixed market/affordable rental housing
- Transitional housing
- Supportive housing
Eligible construction
- New construction
- The conversion of non-residential use to residential use
- The rehabilitation of former residential buildings currently vacant and uninhabitable
Minimum program requirements
- Have a minimum of 5 units
- Have primary use as residential (greater than 70% of building gross square footage)
- Have greater than 30% of residential units rented at less than 80% of the median market rent for the area, as determined by CMHC
- Have eventual funding approval through a program under Canada’s National Housing Strategy (Note: CMHC’s Mortgage Loan Insurance Program is not a funding program of the National Housing Strategy).
- Meet priority needs identified in the City of Winnipeg Comprehensive Housing Needs Assessment Report
Find the Median Market Rents (MMR) for your project neighbourhood at the CMHC Housing Market Information Portal.
Funding streams
Tax Increment Financing
- Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Grants will be awarded to approved projects that meet the minimum program requirements.
- Total grants available under this funding stream are $20 million for developments in the Downtown and $30 million for developments outside the Downtown.
- Projects may be owned by a non-profit, for-profit corporation, or Indigenous governments.
- TIF grants are 80% of incremental municipal property taxes for up to 25 years if an approved project is:
- located in the Downtown, or
- located in a designated Housing Improvement Zone (PDF, 6.7MB), or
- owned and operated by a non-profit corporation, or
- owned and operated by an Indigenous government, or
- includes the rehabilitation of a vacant building where financial need is demonstrated to the satisfaction of the City.
- TIF grants are 80% of incremental municipal property taxes paid each year for up to 15 years if an approved project is:
- located outside of the Downtown or a designated Housing Improvement Zone (PDF, 6.7MB), or
- owned by a for-profit corporation.
- Incremental Taxes means the municipal real property taxes payable in relation to an approved project the years after its occupancy permit is issued, less the amount of the property’s base taxes.
- Base taxes mean the annual municipal real property taxes payable in the year of a project’s approval.
Note: Projects located within the SHED TIF Zone By-law No. 98/2012 or projects conditionally approved under the Downtown Residential Development Grant Program By-law No.77/2010 are not eligible under the Affordable Housing Now program.
Capital Grants
- Capital Grants may also be awarded to projects that exceed the minimum project requirements.
- Total grants available under this funding stream are $2 million.
- To receive a Capital Grant, the project must be:
- owned by a non-profit organization;
- and more than 50% of the residential units in the project must be deeply affordable, meaning rented at less than 60% of the median market rent as determined by CMHC, or rented at Employment and Income Assistance Rates, or rent-geared -to-income.
- Maximum Capital Grants are $10,000 per affordable unit in the project, or a maximum of $250,000 per project.
- Merit will also be determined based on how the project meets the needs of vulnerable groups including:
- People experiencing homelessness
- Women and children fleeing domestic violence
- Indigenous peoples
- People with disabilities
- People dealing with mental health and addiction issues
- Racialized groups
- Recent immigrants and refugees
- Veterans
- LGBTQ2+
- Seniors
- Young adults
Application process
1. Determine if your project is eligible
Before submitting an application, please review eligibility criteria and ensure your project qualifies.
2. Submit the Application Workbook
When you’re ready, you can submit an Application Workbook, along with your project’s architectural plans, and third-party construction budget.
Download the Application Workbook (XLSX, 78KB)
3. Application review
Once received, your application will be reviewed and evaluated by the Affordable Housing Now team. During this process you may be asked for further information to support your application. As well, the City of Winnipeg will consult with CMHC on your application to confirm priority and eligibility under their programs.
4. Conditional Approval Letter
If you project is approved, you will receive a Conditional Approval Letter. This letter will outline the type and amount of each grant(s) to be provided under the Affordable Housing Now program. The letter will set out any conditions of approval, including eventual verification of funding through a program under Canada’s National Housing Strategy.
5. Verification of National Housing Strategy funding approval
Once funding through the National Housing Strategy is received and executed, the grant recipient is required to submit proof to trigger a final Grant Agreement under the Affordable Housing Now program.
6. Grant Agreement
The grant recipient will receive a Grant Agreement to be entered into with the City of Winnipeg setting out all terms and conditions of the Affordable Housing Now grant(s) as required under the City of Winnipeg By-Law No. 14/2022, including continued funding compliance with CMHC.