Sustainable Affordable Housing (SAH)

Sustainable Affordable Housing (SAH)

GMF’s Sustainable Affordable Housing (SAH) initiative made a significant impact in 2023-24 by addressing two urgent and interconnected challenges: climate change and housing affordability. By taking an integrated approach, SAH allocated over $35 million to support planning and studies for 6,856 affordable units, and directly contributed to energy retrofits or new construction for 428 affordable units nationwide. Notably, 66 percent of the units funded by SAH are priced below the median market rent (MMR) in their respective locations, significantly enhancing affordability in many Canadian cities and regions.

Additionally, by providing sustainable, energy-efficient housing options, SAH is actively addressing the housing crisis, ensuring more Canadians have access to homes that are not only affordable but also contribute to lowering their long-term living costs. This integration of sustainability and affordability aligns directly with broader national efforts to solve housing challenges while meeting environmental goals.

In addition, SAH introduced significant updates to its funding offerings. These enhancements include increased grants for planning and studies, an improved financing mix for new developments featuring a 60 percent grant and 40 percent loan, and an additional 10 percent grant for energy-efficient retrofit projects. These updates aim to foster the development of more sustainable, energy-efficient housing solutions, reinforcing our commitment to helping communities achieve their affordable and sustainable housing goals. 

With new projects underway and enhanced funding options, SAH stands at the forefront of GMF’s mission to drive transformation toward sustainable, resilient, and affordable communities. The program has been pivotal in integrating national climate targets with the urgent need for innovative, affordable housing solutions, recognizing that these challenges are best addressed together. 

Scaling for impact: SAH builds on proven affordable housing projects 

GMF-funded projects are designed with scalability in mind to ensure that successful models can be replicated in other jurisdictions. The GMF-funded Ken Soble Tower project was one of the first retrofits of its kind in Canada and was part of the inspiration for the Sustainable Affordable Housing program. It set a benchmark for future projects by demonstrating the viability and benefits of deep energy retrofits in affordable housing. This project has inspired similar initiatives, including the Salus Corporation Passive House project, which, although not directly funded by GMF, draws on the success and learnings from the Ken Soble Tower. 

GMF’s strategic emphasis on capacity development has consistently reinforced the effectiveness and sustainability of its funding initiatives. By leveraging funded projects as learning opportunities, GMF has cultivated a robust ecosystem where knowledge and expertise are shared to benefit a broader range of communities. Last year the SAH Regional Energy Coach (REC) program supported 21 out of the 95 approved applications, highlighting the program's integral role in guiding applicants through the complexities of energy efficiency projects. This assistance ensures that funded projects are not only successful but also serve as blueprints for other communities to emulate and adapt, fostering a culture of replication and continuous improvement.

How we build capacity: Empowering housing providers with essential tools

2023-24 also saw a key milestone for SAH: the successful launch of a new Housing Providers’ Toolkit to help non-profit housing organizations, municipal housing providers, and housing co-operatives build energy efficiency into their projects. 

By the end of the fiscal year, SAH was already receiving positive feedback on the indispensable resources in the toolkit, including the Sustainable Affordable Housing Funding Roadmap and the Project Cash Flow Calculator. Within the first six weeks of launching the toolkit, it received over 1,000 views and downloads. These practical, hands-on resources are empowering housing providers to navigate the intricacies of financial planning and project execution with greater confidence and precision, helping them deliver projects that are both economically viable and environmentally sustainable.