Affordable Housing in Edmonton

[Coldrsx]

City launches sixth round of affordable housing grants
December 11, 2023

The City of Edmonton is offering up to $15 million in grants for affordable housing providers to accelerate development in 2024.

The Affordable Housing Investment Program is the City’s flagship affordable housing program, providing grants for the construction of new developments and the repair of existing units. Since 2019, it has helped create homes across the affordable housing spectrum, from near-market rentals to social and supportive housing. The sixth round of grants is now open to non-profit and private sector developers interested in developing affordable housing in 2024.

“To achieve our goals for community safety and well-being, for reconciliation, and to attract economic investment, we need to ensure everyone has a place to call home. We know the market can’t provide for everyone, from those experiencing houselessness to families struggling to make ends meet. Through these grants, the City helps get shovels in the ground on this critical social infrastructure,” said Mayor Amarjeet Sohi.

Successful projects receive funding to cover up to 25 per cent of construction costs. To be successful, housing providers must guarantee that the affordable units will be offered at below-market rates for 25 to 40 years. Projects are also required to be environmentally sustainable to ensure long-term resilience.

Since 2019, the City has invested a total of $165 million to help create 3,127 units of affordable housing, including 783 units of supportive housing, by providing land, grants and development expertise. Every dollar invested by the City attracts an additional four dollars from other levels of government and affordable housing developers.

To create a city where affordable housing can be found anywhere, we need Edmontonians to welcome it everywhere. Edmontonians can learn more about life inside affordable and supportive housing at edmonton.ca/WelcomeHomes

Quick Facts
Grant applications will be accepted until March 22, 2024. Applicants must have issued Development Permits
Affordable housing is operated, funded or created through direct government subsidies. There are different types of affordable housing to meet different needs.
Social housing: rent-geared-to-income for very low to low income households
Non-market affordable: deep subsidy (less than 50 per cent market rent) and shallow subsidy (less than 80 per cent market rent) for low to moderate income households
Near-market affordable rentals: 80 per cent market rent for moderate income households
Supportive housing is subsidized housing with on-site support services.


For more information:
edmonton.ca/AffordableHousing

Media contact:
Nicole Thomas
Senior Communications Advisor
Community Services
780-220-3328

[Coldrsx]

City looks back on affordable housing progress in 2023
December 20, 2023

The City invested $40.3 million in affordable and supportive housing in 2023, helping to create 412 new homes across Edmonton, including 172 units of supportive and transitional housing, and renew 1,955 older units.

“The City is more committed than ever to solving the affordable housing crisis. We are seeing the effects of a lack of investment over decades by all orders of government. But with all partners now at the table—from government, industry and the non-profit sector—I am optimistic that we can make significant progress in 2024,” said Mayor Amarjeet Sohi.

Since 2019, the City has invested a total of $165 million to help create 3,116 units of affordable housing—including 783 units of supportive housing—by providing land, grants and development expertise. Every dollar invested by the City attracts an additional four dollars from other levels of government and affordable housing developers.

As the year comes to an end, construction continues at Edmonton’s newest purpose-built supportive housing. The four-storey apartment building in Holyrood will open its doors to at least 63 residents in early 2025. This is the sixth development the City has created in partnership with Homeward Trust since 2020.

Other significant City Council decisions include:
The sale of City-owned land in Athlone to Veterans’ House Canada for $1. The non-profit agency plans to build 40 units of supportive housing, recreating a successful supportive housing model it developed in Ottawa to support veterans experiencing homelessness.
$2.7 million for Catholic Social Services to help create 33 units of transitional housing for women and children who have fled domestic violence.
$16.7 million in grants that will help non-market housing developers create 276 units of affordable and supportive housing. The next round of grant applications is now open and recommendations from the first-ever funding stream specifically for Indigenous housing will go to Executive Committee for approval in March 2024.
A new grant that covers municipal property taxes for affordable housing units operated by non-profit organizations, allowing providers to keep rental rates low, reinvest in maintenance and make future development plans
The City and the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation invested $19.55 million to renew 1,955 homes managed by HomeEd and Civida, ensuring residents can rely on safe, stable and affordable housing for at least another 20 years.

In January, the City will share its updated Affordable Housing Strategy with Council. The strategy sets short and long-term targets that will help achieve the City Plan goal of nobody in core housing need and no chronic or episodic homelessness. That includes a new target of 2,700 new or renewed affordable housing units by 2026.

To create a city where affordable housing can be found anywhere, we need Edmontonians to welcome it everywhere. Edmontonians can learn more about life inside affordable and supportive housing at edmonton.ca/WelcomeHomes.

Quick Facts
Affordable housing is operated, funded or created through direct government subsidies. There are different types of affordable housing to meet different needs.
Supportive housing is subsidized housing with on-site support services.
Social housing: rent-geared-to-income for very low to low income households
Non-market affordable: deep subsidy (less than 50 per cent market rent) and shallow subsidy (less than 80 per cent market rent) for low to moderate income households
Near-market affordable rentals: 80 per cent market rent for moderate income households


For more information:
edmonton.ca/AffordableHousing

Media contact:
Nicole Thomas
Senior Communications Advisor
Community Services
780-220-3328

[Coldrsx]

Edmonton's emergency motion: Minister McIver

January 16, 2024 Media inquiries
Minister of Municipal Affairs Ric McIver issued the following statement on Edmonton city council’s Jan. 16 motion to declare a housing emergency:

“Alberta’s government has closely monitored the Edmonton city council debate regarding a motion to declare a housing and homelessness ‘emergency.’

“It is disappointing that the City of Edmonton would choose to issue a performative declaration suggesting an emergency and implying a lack of response from our government.

“We were pleased to brief councillors earlier today on the action our government is taking in collaboration with Indigenous leaders to address the dangerous situation in encampments. We had hoped that the city would put aside performative measures and put Albertans first, but unfortunately that was not the case.

“It is important to clarify to Albertans that this motion does not have any legal implications, authority or binding force. The provincial government will continue to work with Grand Chief Cody Thomas, Chief Dale McFee of the Edmonton Police Service, as well as City of Edmonton employees to protect vulnerable Albertans.

“The fact that Edmonton’s city council made a non-binding motion is especially troubling because it devalues the word ‘emergency.’ When the word ‘emergency’ is used, Albertans are used to stepping up and taking action directly, while that is not the intention of this motion.

“I look forward to my Government of Alberta colleagues announcing our action plan and response in the coming days.”


Media inquiries

Scott Johnston

780-918-4284
Press Secretary, Municipal Affairs

[Rocket252]

^ 100% spot on.

I declare a crisis of confidence emergency in our city council for its idiotic actions.

[Hardhatdan]

Except it isn't spot on, it's just another lame duck excuse from the Province failing to address its responsibility.

Whatever performative action occurred, at least it is forcing the Minister to address the situation and forcing their hand into, what I can only hope, is real action on his portfolio instead of trying to download it onto the municipalities who are not equipped, funded or staffed to deal with it.

[feepa]

That funny. As soon as Edmonton declared a state of emergency for homelessness, the province complains, and then actually did something that might help. It's like the city needed to declare this emergency in order for the province to actually do something.

(kudos to the UCP simps in this thread)

Alberta to open Edmonton reception centre, triage evicted homeless from 'high risk' encampments
According to information from a highly-placed source inside Edmonton city hall, the reception centre would provide wrap-around services to people who are displaced

Author of the article:Lauren Boothby
Published Jan 17, 2024 • 2 minute read
Join the conversation
Edmonton homeless
Police and city crews remove a homeless encampment near 95 Street and 101A Avenue, in Edmonton Wednesday Jan. 10, 2024. PHOTO BY DAVID BLOOM /Postmedia
Article content
The Alberta government is expected to announce Wednesday a new Edmonton reception centre for homeless people displaced from “high risk” encampments.

Postmedia has seen a slide deck expected to be presented to Edmonton city council in a private meeting outlining the city’s role in a new process for handling camp teardowns.

Article content
The slide deck shows people evicted from encampments deemed ‘high risk’ will be triaged along four paths: they will be given transportation to a new provincially-run reception centre, brought to the Edmonton Police Service’s (EPS) Integrated Care Centre, arrested for outstanding warrants, or allowed to leave the site voluntarily.


Alberta is also expected to give the city $4.5 million toward these efforts: $4 million for cleaning encampment sites, and $500,000 to pay for Edmonton Transit Service buses that will transport people to the reception centre.

The province is expected to publicly announce the plans and offer further details on Wednesday.

According to information from a highly-placed source inside Edmonton city hall, the reception centre would provide wrap-around services to people who are displaced. Alberta Health Services will be on-site to offer medical aid, along with social agencies to connect people to housing and shelter and offer drug treatment, among other services.

City officials and police were involved in creating the province’s plan, the source indicated. City council was also given an overview of this plan during a private meeting with provincial cabinet ministers Tuesday morning.

Edmonton’s current approach to encampments involves having peace officers assess the level of risk a particular camp poses to occupants and the public. It can be deemed high risk if there is evidence of recent fires, gang activity or other crimes. Absent of these risks, a camp’s size and for how long it has existed alone can also be reasons a site is classified this way.

The way Edmonton handles homeless camps has faced intense scrutiny and prompted public outcry since plans to rapidly dismantle eight sites in the weeks leading up to Christmas were revealed. The city also faced legal action on encampment removals, but the lawsuit and request for injunction were dismissed Tuesday.

Edmonton city council declared an emergency on housing and houselessness on Tuesday.

More to come…

https://edmontonjournal.com/news/loc...ception-centre

[Harrison]

Originally Posted by Hardhatdan

Except it isn't spot on, it's just another lame duck excuse from the Province failing to address its responsibility.

Whatever performative action occurred, at least it is forcing the Minister to address the situation and forcing their hand into, what I can only hope, is real action on his portfolio instead of trying to download it onto the municipalities who are not equipped, funded or staffed to deal with it.

This, it shouldn't have taken the declaration of an emergency to make the Province step up and actually do more for an area that they are primarily responsible for in the first place.

I don't agree that the declaration will do much to make a difference from the City's perspective, as they are already doing all they can, but if it makes the Province actually fulfill their role appropriately then it is worthwhile.

[Coldrsx]

https://transforming.edmonton.ca/the...ighter-future/

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Budget 2024

Family, Social Supports and Housing
Housing affordability is a top priority of the government. In line with Stronger
Foundations — Alberta’s 10-year strategy to improve and expand affordable
housing supply and housing supports, the 2024 Capital Plan allocates
$829 million over three years — an increase of $355 million, or 75 per cent,
from Budget 2023 — to fund projects that enhance affordable housing and
social supports in various locations around the province. Together with CMR
funding, almost $1 billion is being allocated to seniors’ facilities and housing.
Key projects supported include:
•
$405 million, including $75 million in new funding, for the Affordable
Housing Partnership Program, to support the goal to create 13,000
affordable housing units.
•
$130 million, including $125 million in new funding, for the Seniors Lodge
Modernization Program to ensure lodges continue to be a viable housing
option for Alberta seniors.
•
$91 million for the Affordable Housing Strategy, to fund the maintenance
of government-owned social housing buildings.
•
$75 million for the Indigenous Housing Capital Program, including
$30 million in new funding to Indigenous communities to construct,
purchase, or redevelop housing for Indigenous peoples in need.

https://open.alberta.ca/dataset/23c8...7.pdf#page=103

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The province is committing $840 million over three years in the 2024 budgetfor 5,000 more affordable housing units. The funding includes more than $400 million for housing projects through the Affordable Housing Partnership Program and $75 million for the Indigenous Housing Capital Program to build homes for Indigenous people across Alberta. The 2024 budget also includes funding for seniors housing development and renewal, the province said, with ongoing projects aimed at improving housing accessibility and affordability. - Taproot
GOA Release
https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?x...eid=b81cde227f

[Coldrsx]

City building more supportive housing
April 23, 2024

City Council has approved plans for two new supportive housing sites that will provide nearly 100 homes for Edmontonians at risk of homelessness.

The City will lead construction of two purpose-built supportive housing developments using City-owned land in Garneau and Canora and funds from the existing affordable housing budget. The sites will be transferred to Homeward Trust Edmonton when they are complete, anticipated for 2026.

“The solution to our houselessness crisis is building more housing. By providing more supportive housing, the City is taking concrete action toward addressing one of its biggest challenges,” said Mayor Amarjeet Sohi. “These new homes will take us one step closer to creating an Edmonton for all of us.”

Since 2020, the City and Homeward Trust have partnered on six supportive housing developments throughout Edmonton, creating 275 new homes for Edmontonians in need. Homeward Trust works with specialized social service agencies to operate supportive housing, tailoring each site to meet the distinct needs of residents that need supports to maintain housing.

Both buildings will be designed by GEC Architecture, the local design firm behind earlier City-led supportive housing. Garneau’s building will have 34 suites, including five barrier-free units for people with disabilities. Canora’s building will have 63 suites, including nine barrier-free units.

“Supportive housing ensures vulnerable members of our communities have access to a safe, stable place to call home while they receive the supports and services they need.” said Minister of Seniors, Community and Social Services Jason Nixon. “I am glad to see that city council is moving forward with the Garneau and Canora projects which Alberta’s government funded through our Affordable Housing Partnership Program. We will continue to work with our partners, like the City of Edmonton, to get these much-needed projects underway.”

The City will use $33.4 million from its affordable housing budget to construct the buildings. The Government of Alberta is also providing $6.59 million toward construction.

“Supportive housing isn't just about providing shelter; it's about offering a pathway to stability, wellness, and community integration. By combining housing with wrap-around supportive services, we're not just preventing homelessness; we're restoring hope and empowering individuals to thrive," said Susan McGee, CEO of Homeward Trust.

The updated Affordable Housing Strategy projects the need for an additional 1,400 to 1,700 new units of supportive housing over the next five years. Supportive housing is a type of affordable housing that offers below-market rents as well as wraparound support services and a community. Residents sign a lease and pay rent, while also receiving support with life skills and health and wellness support services. Since 2019, the City has invested a total of $63.9 million to help create 783 new units of supportive housing across Edmonton.
For more information:
edmonton.ca/WelcomeHomes

Media contact:
Yetunde Adebiyi
Senior Communications Advisor
Community Services
780-446-8278

[Coldrsx]

CRL monies can now be used for privately built affordable housing.

'The Community Revitalization Levy (CRL) program is already being used by communities to help neighbourhoods reach their development potential. Expanding the criteria for the CRL Program will help to spur additional housing development. If the legislation passes, municipalities will be able to support the capital costs of privately-owned affordable or attainable housing, such as office-to-residential conversions, as long as the development is appropriate for the area and will lead to more homes.'

https://www.alberta.ca/release.cfm?x...83AA545E170235