Vacant Building Grant

The Vacant Building Grant application deadline was August 17, 2026. We are no longer accepting applications. 

Our Vacant Building Grant is a new one-time grant that helps turn vacant and underutilized buildings into occupied homes.

This program responds to the City’s 2025 Housing Needs Assessment, which identified the challenges posed by vacant buildings in Winnipeg. The grant will help bring these buildings back into use, support neighbourhood renewal, and create more affordable homes.

A total of $3 million is available. Grants are up to $35,000 per unit. The Vacant Building Grant can be used to buy, repair and/or renovate vacant buildings for housing.

Information session

Interested applicants were invited to attend an information session hosted by the City on July 22nd, 2026, 2-4pm to learn more about the Vacant Building Grant. The presentation from that Information Session is available here. (PDF, 10.1MB)

Grant details

The Vacant Building Grant is part of the Housing Accelerator Fund Grant Program By-law.

Eligible Projects

A project may be eligible for a Vacant Building Grant if it meets the following criteria:

  • The building has been vacant (not used or occupied — evidence required) or underused (less than half of the building is occupied) for at least two years.
  • Building may be:
    • Multi-unit residential,
    • Single-unit residential, or
    • Converted from another use, such as a hotel, office, or warehouse.
  • The project must create or repair at least four housing units. Units may be on more than one lot. The project must include at least as many housing units as the building had before.
  • The project must include either:
    • 100% affordable home ownership units, or
    • at least 30% of all units rented at one of the following affordability criteria:
      1. less than 80% of the median market rent rate for at least 20 years
      2. equal to or less than the Province of Manitoba Affordable Housing Rental Rates for at least 20 years
  • If you cannot meet the affordability requirements above, explain why in the proposal. We may consider other options that still support the program’s overall affordable housing goals.
  • The property must be owned or leased by the applicant, or the applicant must be in the process of buying or leasing it, for example through an accepted offer to purchase.
  • Applicants may be for-profit organizations, non-profit organizations, or Indigenous governments.
  • Housing units must receive an occupancy permit, or equivalent approval, by the end of the fourth calendar year after the project receives conditional approval.

Eligible expenses

  • The building must be owned or leased by the applicant before all grant funds are released.
  • Expenses must be incurred between December 4, 2023 and October 1, 2027.
  • Grant funds can be used for building purchase, construction or renovation, and related costs, including pre-development costs.
  • Total building demolition is not an eligible cost.

Timeline

  • Application intake window: July 2 to August 17, 2026
  • Information session: July 22, 2026
  • Projects to receive conditional approval letters: Fall 2026
  • Deadline for projects to spend grant funds: October 1, 2027

Proposal selection process

Evaluation criteria

Because program funding is limited, eligible project proposals will be reviewed by a committee. Proposals will be scored using the following weighted criteria:

  • Readiness to construct and applicant experience (35%), including the ability to complete the project on time and the experience of the applicant and/or partners in delivering successful projects with similar scale and target populations.
  • Social impact of the proposed development (25%), including ownership (for example, non-profit or Indigenous government), number of units, target population, planned tenant supports (if applicable), project location, unit mix, and alignment with the City’s 2025 Housing Needs Assessment.
  • Financial feasibility and efficient use of funding (15%), including number of units, operating and capital feasibility, ability to secure enough funding or financing, and proof that financial assistance is needed.
  • Neighbourhood revitalization impact (15%), including repair or re-occupancy of problematic or long-term vacant or underused buildings, a focus on areas with higher vacancy rates, and increased housing supply.
  • Planning alignment (10%), such as alignment with OurWinnipeg 2045 and Complete Communities 2.0.

Questions?

Contact us and we will be happy to help.

Email: HAF@winnipeg.ca

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