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Housing Accelerator Fund
The City of Waterloo has been awarded $22 million in funding from the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF). This program, established by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), provides financial support to local governments to address housing affordability and supply challenges in their communities.
The City of Waterloo will use this grant to support a housing action plan that will increase the supply of housing, accelerate the construction of new housing (including new affordable housing), create greater certainty in the development approvals and building permit process, and support long lasting systemic changes
Fund amount: $22 million
Outcome: 650 new housing units in 3 years (over and above our historical housing growth)
Waterloo's HAF Action Plan
The City of Waterloo HAF Action Plan contains eight initiatives:
Municipal Lands Program Use identified municipally-owned lands for affordable and attainable housing. Status: launched
Employment Land Conversion Review employment land needs and amend the Official Plan and Zoning By-law to permit a mix of employment, commercial and residential 'as of right' on certain lands that were previously designated for employment purposes. Status: launched
Corridor Expansion Study and Plan Expand “missing middle”, transit supportive housing options in an area near the City’s post secondary institutions and public transit. Status: launched
Multi-Unit Residential Acquisition Program Develop a Multi-Unit Residential Acquisition program to enable the purchase of market rental buildings and/or units for affordable housing by mission-aligned not-for-profit housing providers, co-operatives and community land trusts. Status: launched
Additional Residential Unit Toolkit and Financial Incentives Create a webpage that helps homeowners understand the process, steps, requirements and costs associated with the construction of Additional Residential Units (ARUs), as well as the financial incentives to encourage homeowners to build market and affordable ARUs. Status: launched
Pilot Community Planning Permit System Adopt a planning tool that combines the three development processes (zoning, minor variance and site plan control) into one application, and an approval process that speeds up approvals by 50% and enables housing to reach the market more quickly. Status: launched .
Parking Framework / Approval Process Update Review and update of the City's parking requirements for new development to make optimal use of land and promote affordability. Create a streamlined process and monitoring framework for reviewing further reduced parking requests for developments containing affordable units. Status: launched
Affordable Housing Strategy
The City of Waterloo HAF Action Plan will help to implement actions identified in the Affordable Housing Strategy. Approved by council in 2023, our Affordable Housing Strategy (PDF) aims to:
Plan for and enable a greater supply and mix of housing
Plan for and prioritize non-market (subsidized) and temporary housing
Optimize the use of existing housing and protect the affordable housing supply
Provide incentives to build affordable housing
Build city and community capacity, awareness and supports for affordable housing
The eight initiatives are also part of the City of Waterloo's work to meet the objectives of our Complete Community strategic priority, including:
Collaborate with area municipalities and community partners on housing initiatives in our community.
Implement the Affordable Housing Strategy to increase the supply and mix of affordable housing.
Carry out and monitor the City's Housing Pledge, planning for 16,000 new units by 2031 (the 650 new units as part of the HAF actions are in addition to our pledge)
Optimize the use of City-owned lands to achieve strategic objectives.
Stay informed
Subscribe for updates to get the latest news and information on the City of Waterloo's HAF Action Plan. Add your email to the Stay Informed box on this page and click Subscribe.
Housing Accelerator Fund
The City of Waterloo has been awarded $22 million in funding from the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF). This program, established by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), provides financial support to local governments to address housing affordability and supply challenges in their communities.
The City of Waterloo will use this grant to support a housing action plan that will increase the supply of housing, accelerate the construction of new housing (including new affordable housing), create greater certainty in the development approvals and building permit process, and support long lasting systemic changes
Fund amount: $22 million
Outcome: 650 new housing units in 3 years (over and above our historical housing growth)
Waterloo's HAF Action Plan
The City of Waterloo HAF Action Plan contains eight initiatives:
Municipal Lands Program Use identified municipally-owned lands for affordable and attainable housing. Status: launched
Employment Land Conversion Review employment land needs and amend the Official Plan and Zoning By-law to permit a mix of employment, commercial and residential 'as of right' on certain lands that were previously designated for employment purposes. Status: launched
Corridor Expansion Study and Plan Expand “missing middle”, transit supportive housing options in an area near the City’s post secondary institutions and public transit. Status: launched
Multi-Unit Residential Acquisition Program Develop a Multi-Unit Residential Acquisition program to enable the purchase of market rental buildings and/or units for affordable housing by mission-aligned not-for-profit housing providers, co-operatives and community land trusts. Status: launched
Additional Residential Unit Toolkit and Financial Incentives Create a webpage that helps homeowners understand the process, steps, requirements and costs associated with the construction of Additional Residential Units (ARUs), as well as the financial incentives to encourage homeowners to build market and affordable ARUs. Status: launched
Pilot Community Planning Permit System Adopt a planning tool that combines the three development processes (zoning, minor variance and site plan control) into one application, and an approval process that speeds up approvals by 50% and enables housing to reach the market more quickly. Status: launched .
Parking Framework / Approval Process Update Review and update of the City's parking requirements for new development to make optimal use of land and promote affordability. Create a streamlined process and monitoring framework for reviewing further reduced parking requests for developments containing affordable units. Status: launched
Affordable Housing Strategy
The City of Waterloo HAF Action Plan will help to implement actions identified in the Affordable Housing Strategy. Approved by council in 2023, our Affordable Housing Strategy (PDF) aims to:
Plan for and enable a greater supply and mix of housing
Plan for and prioritize non-market (subsidized) and temporary housing
Optimize the use of existing housing and protect the affordable housing supply
Provide incentives to build affordable housing
Build city and community capacity, awareness and supports for affordable housing
The eight initiatives are also part of the City of Waterloo's work to meet the objectives of our Complete Community strategic priority, including:
Collaborate with area municipalities and community partners on housing initiatives in our community.
Implement the Affordable Housing Strategy to increase the supply and mix of affordable housing.
Carry out and monitor the City's Housing Pledge, planning for 16,000 new units by 2031 (the 650 new units as part of the HAF actions are in addition to our pledge)
Optimize the use of City-owned lands to achieve strategic objectives.
Stay informed
Subscribe for updates to get the latest news and information on the City of Waterloo's HAF Action Plan. Add your email to the Stay Informed box on this page and click Subscribe.
