About Us
Services Available
We assist organizations with developing viable and sustainable business plans and funding proposals for affordable housing projects.
We connect organizations to resources (both financial and knowledge-based) that can be directed towards the development of an affordable housing project.
We provide tools and resources to help organizations build their capacity to provide affordable housing.
We offer a Guidebook to Affordable Housing that can assist housing providers throughout each stage of development and can help advance affordable housing projects.
The Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) provides business planning services and assists community-based organizations, businesses and group to securing funding for proposed affordable housing projects in Saskatoon. SHIP’s goal is to foster the provision of safe, permanent, affordable, appropriate and secure housing for the residents of Saskatoon and the surrounding communities because housing is the necessary foundation for building healthy, well-educated, creative and economically viable neighbourhoods and communities. For this reason, SHIP offers a variety of services to affordable housing proponents at a rate that is comparably lower than most for-profit companies and consulting firms. Given SHIP’s experience, knowledge, and expertise in the area of affordable housing, our team is well equipped to provide much needed guidance and support where necessary throughout the process of pursing funding and developing affordable housing projects in our community.
The following includes a list of services provided by SHIP:
Drafting/Writing Business Plan
A clearly organized and well-written business plan is an integral part of any organization’s affordable housing project. An affordable housing business plan allows potential funders to examine your organization’s project in detail, including the need and demand for affordable housing for your targeted clientele group, your organization’s experience with to date with the targeted clientele group and the provision of housing, the details of the proposed project, resources currently available or being pursued, and other pertinent information. A well-written, clear business plan has a higher chance of receiving support, funding and approvals by government as well as lending institutions. SHIP's services include drafting all written portions of the affordable housing business plan. SHIP will work in collaboration with your organization to ensure that all required information is included in the business plan and will ensure that the project objectives and concept is clearly and professionally presented in a manner that reflects your organization’s mission and goals of providing affordable housing.
Drafting/Writing Funding Proposals
Requests for proposals (RFPs), often issued by the various levels of government, must demonstrate how an organization’s affordable housing project or proposed affordable housing services meet the outlined requirements of the request for proposals in order to receive funding. A well-written, clear funding proposal that offers information about your organization and states how the proposed affordable housing project or services meet these outlined requirements has a higher chance of receiving funding. SHIP's services include drafting all written portions of the affordable housing funding proposal. SHIP will work in collaboration with your organization to ensure that all required information is included in the proposal, will ensure that the project objectives and concept are clearly and professionally presented, and will help your organization to demonstrate how the project meets the objectives and requirements of the RFP.
Research and Analysis
Both business plans and funding proposals require that information be presented that demonstrates the need and demand for housing in a given area or for an intended client group. An organization may also require general information about the demographics of the population that your organizations wishes to house or serve as well as background information on the housing market as it pertains to your targeted clientele group prior to considering the development of affordable housing. Conducting this research and providing an analysis of the findings offer statistical evidence that supports the need and demand for services of for housing that your group seeks to provide. Well researched, documented and analyzed findings are important for the success of any affordable housing endeavours.
Managing Research Services
In order to meet funding requirements for the various levels of government as well as lending institutions, a feasibility analysis or need and demand assessment is often required. SHIP is able to assist with and/or coordinate research efforts with consulting firms. These services may include working with your organization to determine research requirements, preparing requests for research proposals and research outlines, completing preliminary research, and working with consulting firms to ensure that research requirements are met and that final assessments and reports are completed to a high standard.
Editing, Formatting and Drafting Assistance
Available services also include proofing, editing and formatting assistance or guidance throughout the process of drafting business plans or funding proposals. Assistance may also include clarifying the mission, goals and objectives of the organization pursing affordable housing. This service is also useful for those groups that have completed their business plan or funding proposal and want to ensure that the document has been done to the standards that potential funding partners require.
* For a list of applicable fees for the above listed services, please contact the Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership.
