Encouraging the Supply of Affordable Housing in Saskatoon
Community-Based Organizations, Associations, and Partnerships
In response to the increasing need for affordable housing, many community-based organizations have undertaken the task of developing their own affordable housing projects in Saskatoon. These organizations are helping to alleviate specific housing needs by providing various forms affordable housing, including rent-geared-to-income social housing, supportive housing, transitional and emergency housing, affordable rental housing and assisted home-ownership.
Another organization that works in partnership with many groups and the various levels of government to encourage the supply of affordable housing in our community is the Saskatoon & Region Home Builders’ Association. The Associations promotes affordability and choice for all people in Saskatoon and Central Saskatchewan. For more information, call 955-5188, email admin@saskatoonhomebuilders.com, or visit the Saskatoon & Region Home Builders’ Association website at www.saskatoonhomebuilders.com.
City of Saskatoon’s Role in Encouraging the Supply of Affordable Housing
The City of Saskatoon
The City of Saskatoon plays an important role in encouraging and facilitating the development of housing in Saskatoon. The City administers a number of programs that are designed to assist housing providers, encourage affordability, and increase the supply of housing in our community. The City of Saskatoon’s Housing Business Plan 2009 outlines the various initiatives and incentive programs offered to encourage housing affordability in our city.
Current incentives include: Capital Funding up to ten percent of the project, the New Rental Construction Land-Cost Rebate Program of up to $5,000 per rental unit, the Home First Ownership Program, Permit Rebates for Secondary Suites, Property Tax Abatements for affordable housing projects, the Direct Sale of City-Owned Land for Affordable Housing Projects, and a Priority Review of Approved Affordable Housing Projects.
The City of Saskatoon has also proposed further incentives for affordable housing providers. The proposed incentives consist of: a Permanent Affordable Housing Program (Land Trust), a New Zoning District for Entry-level and Affordable Housing, Bonuses for Inclusionary Housing, and a Policy Review of “Granny”, Garage, and Carriage Suites.
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)
CMHC is dedicated to advancing affordable housing solutions across Canada. CMHC works with the private, public and non-profit sectors to help develop affordable housing. The services they offer include data information, financial assistance and mortgage loan insurance.
Financial assistance for affordable housing projects and assistance for homeowners is available in numerous forms, including: Seed Funding, Proposal Development Funding, Affordable Housing Initiatives and Renovation Programs, and Flexibilities for Affordable Housing, to name a few.
Saskatchewan Housing Corporation (SHC)
Saskatchewan Housing Corporation (SHC) promotes self-sufficiency and independence by providing housing and housing services for families, seniors, persons with disabilities and others who could not otherwise afford safe, secure shelter. The Saskatchewan Housing Corporation provides funding for a number of ongoing and new housing programs and services for low to moderate-income households, and sometimes landlords, with an identified need. Assistance may be in the form of forgivable or repayable loans or grants. Programs include social and affordable rental housing, home renovations, repairs and energy retrofit programs, home adaptations programs, supports to independent living for seniors, and homeownership options.
The Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP)
In addition to the programs and incentives listed above, the City of Saskatoon has provided its generous support to the Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) so that SHIP can provide business planning services to affordable housing providers.
The City’s support enables SHIP to play an important role in the City’s overall affordable housing strategy. SHIP provides useful resources to community-based and non-profit organizations that seek to take part in increasing the supply of affordable housing in Saskatoon but lack some of the skills and resources available to others in the residential housing industry. Not only does SHIP provide business planning services to affordable housing providers, SHIP is in constant contact with those organizations that offer funding for affordable housing initiatives and can help groups with their funding applications and proposals.
