Social/Affordable Housing Projects in Ottawa

[rocketphish]

Here's the actual press release:

https://www.newswire.ca/news-release...841517658.html

[rocketphish]

Ontario government, City of Ottawa partner with Habitat for Humanity on new modular homes

By Ted Raymond, CTV News
Published: December 08, 2025 at 1:27PM EST



The City of Ottawa and the Ontario government are contributing nearly $10 million toward a Habitat for Humanity project to build 33 modular, affordable townhomes in Nepean.

The province said Monday the homes will be built at 40 Beechcliffe Street, near the intersection of Woodroffe Avenue and Knoxdale Road. The site was identified as part of the Ottawa-Ontario Deal that was signed in March 2024.

“Home prices at 40 Beechcliffe Street will be set to reflect prices home buyers can afford. Designed for families, these attainable homes will include 3 to 4 bedrooms. To further remove barriers to ownership, the homes will require no down payment and mortgage payments will be geared to household income,” a news release from the province said.

The City of Ottawa is providing the land and spending $6 million on the project, while the Ontario government is contributing $3.4 million. Caivan is the development sponsor and builder.

“At a time of economic uncertainty, our government is stepping up by supporting innovative housing projects like Beechcliffe Homes to leave no stone unturned in helping people unlock the quintessential dream of owning a home in Ontario while keeping workers on the job,” said Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Rob Flack, in a news release.

Mayor Mark Sutcliffe says the city’s $6 million contribution is a “clear sign of our commitment to build more homes and build them faster.”

“The City of Ottawa is saying yes to more housing and more affordable housing,” he said.

According to Habitat for Humanity, in order to be eligible for one of the homes, buyers must fulfill the following criteria:

• A total household income sufficient to cover the cost of Habitat homeownership
• Canadian citizen or a permanent resident
• Must be a first-time homebuyer and current renter
• At least one adult in a household with a minimum of two years of full-time employment history in Canada
• No recent bankruptcies. Habitat for Humanity requires three years from a bankruptcy or consumer proposal discharge
• Living somewhere that does not meet the family’s needs
• Able and willing to contribute 500 volunteer hours on the build site or with other Habitat projects and community activities (350 for single-parent families)

Each home will be 1,648 sq. ft. with a small backyard, finished rec room, driveway, and one-car garage. They will include three bedrooms with the option to expand to four depending on family size.

“Through investments like this in Habitat’s affordable homeownership model and by embracing factory-built construction, we’re demonstrating that there are scalable, community-driven solutions to the housing crisis,” said Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa CEO Sara Cooper. “Together, we are building more than homes, we are building equity, resilience, and a stronger Ottawa.”

The site is being prepared for construction, with sales set to begin early in the new year, and occupancy expected as early as February 2027.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/articl...modular-homes/

[eltodesukane]

Will they leave room for the future LRT to Barrhaven?
Knoxdale station >>

[Williamoforange]

My guess is these houses will just butt up against the LRT station.... But by god is this a waste of prime land and anyone who wins one will be winning the lottery. This should be more dense than this, stacked town homes, or greater

https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/publi...3-161468f44274

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Williamoforange

My guess is these houses will just butt up against the LRT station.... But by god is this a waste of prime land and anyone who wins one will be winning the lottery. This should be more dense than this, stacked town homes, or greater

https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/publi...3-161468f44274

I agree with you on this one.

[zzptichka]

What the hell is this? How is this allowed to be built right next to the future LRT station in 2025, let alone subsidized by the public?
Does it have to be approved by the council?

[rocketphish]

City floats plan to speed up construction of affordable housing
Pilot project would see city secure loans for three OCHC projects

Cameron Mahler · CBC News
Posted: Feb 04, 2026 4:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 5 hours ago

City of Ottawa staff want council to approve a new financing framework they say could speed up the construction of affordable housing.

According to a staff report, rising construction costs and higher interest rates over the past five years have created deficits of roughly 30 to 40 per cent for Ottawa Community Housing Corporation (OCHC) projects, despite contributions from federal and provincial housing funding programs.

To address these shortfalls, the city proposed a new "Affordable Housing Debenture Framework" at Tuesday’s Finance and Corporate Services Committee.

Using the OCHC projects as pilot program under the framework, the city treasury would acquire short-term loans using its high credit rating. The city would then put the funds toward the construction of three OCHC projects offering about 550 new affordable housing units.

“Shovels are ready to go,” said Cyril Rogers, the city's chief financial officer. “This funding will now be a direct injection, that build will now take place.”

City officials say the new framework would allow the housing corporation's projects, and others, to move forward sooner by reducing the need for large upfront funding. Instead, the city would spread those costs over time through promissory notes.

Promissory notes are short-term agreements where the city borrows money and agrees to repay it with interest, typically within one to three months.

Staff are also recommending the city set aside up to $2 million a year from its housing reserve, for up to 10 years, to temporarily cover debt until the OCHC can repay it themselves through rent revenue.

If approved, the new framework would be added to the growing list of debt-financed projects the city has approved in recent months.

Ottawa has approved the purchase of an east-end landfill ($95 million) on debt and is pursuing the Lansdowne 2.0 project ($483 million) mostly through debt — but hopes to offset those costs through commercial revenue, property taxes, ticket surcharges and other revenue streams.

The framework is also designed to work alongside potential funding from government housing initiatives, including an anticipated $32 million from the Build Canada Homes fund.

Tuesday's staff recommendations were passed by the committee and will be presented to city council for final approval on Feb. 11.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottaw...ects-9.7072692

[J.OT13]

Près de 400 nouveaux logements abordables et sociaux arrivent en Outaouais
Par Logir, LeDroit
7 février 2026 à 00h57

Une excellente nouvelle pour les ménages à la recherche d’un logement abordable en Outaouais!

En collaboration avec Logir, le bras immobilier de l’Office d’habitation de l’Outaouais, près de 400 nouveaux logements sont disponibles à la location. Ces nouveaux projets immobiliers répondent à un besoin criant dans la région et représentent une occasion unique d’accéder à un milieu de vie de qualité, moderne et durable.

Au total, 395 logements, dont 124 logements abordables et 271 logements subventionnés, verront le jour dès début 2026 dans le cadre de trois projets immobiliers neufs :

Projet Champlain

• Situé au 344, rue Champlain
• 199 logements de 1 et 2 chambres, dont 139 subventionnés et 60 abordables
• 13 étages

Projet Habiter chez soi

• Situé au 295, rue Saint-René Est
• 134 logements de 1, 2 et 3 chambres, dont 99 subventionnés et 35 abordables
• 8 étages

Projet Wright

• Situé au 35, rue Wright
• 62 logements de 1 et 2 chambres, dont 33 subventionnés et 29 abordables
• 6 étages

Chacun de ces projets propose un cadre de vie accueillant et sécuritaire, pensé pour favoriser la stabilité résidentielle et le bien-être des occupants. Conçus pour répondre aux besoins variés des ménages, ces immeubles offrent des matériaux de qualité, une excellente insonorisation et des aménagements favorisant le confort au quotidien. Leur emplacement stratégique, à proximité des services essentiels, facilite la vie des futurs locataires.

Un avantage non négligeable vient s’ajouter à cette offre : les services essentiels, dont le chauffage et l’électricité, sont inclus dans le loyer, simplifiant ainsi la gestion du budget mensuel et offrant une tranquillité d’esprit appréciable. De plus, pour les personnes ayant un véhicule, des cases de stationnement intérieur sont disponibles sur réservation, moyennant un tarif mensuel.

Les logements subventionnés sont destinés aux ménages déjà inscrits sur la liste d’attente de l’Office d’habitation de l’Outaouais. Toutefois, bonne nouvelle : il est encore tout à fait possible de s’inscrire dès maintenant pour l’un des logements abordables. Les places sont limitées et la demande est forte — mieux vaut agir rapidement!

https://www.ledroit.com/la-vitrine/2...CV46E3G3SC27E/

[Richard Eade]

According to Leiper's weekly newsletter, the City's Finance Committee will be looking into purchasing the old Sonder's Hotel, at 377 O'Connor, for $45M; to be used for transitional housing.

[phil235]

Obviously this provides much-needed shelter space, and the opportunity to purchase a vacant building in that condition is a big plus. That said, I really question the ongoing concentration of these types of facilities in Centretown. There's got to be a concerted effort to spread shelters throughout the city. It's really unfortunate that the central part of the city is forced to bear the lion's share of the burden while being neglected on so many other fronts.

It seems to me that it would make sense to tie shelter place to other resources. Something along the lines that if Centretown/Lowertown has x number of shelter places, it should receive a proportionate boost in funding for transit, health services, recreation etc.

[rocketphish]

City poised to buy vacant downtown hotel to house families
Federal funding will cover most of $45M purchase price, city staff say

Nathan Fung · CBC News
Posted: Feb 23, 2026 5:24 PM EST | Last Updated: 1 hour ago

The City of Ottawa is poised to purchase a former downtown hotel for use as transitional housing for families experiencing homelessness.

In a report prepared for the city's finance and corporate services committee on March 3, city staff recommend buying 377 O'Connor St., located on the southeast corner of O’Connor and Gladstone Avenue, to help relieve the strain on the family shelter system.

The recently renovated building was not publicly listed for sale. It has been both a hotel and an extended-stay apartment building, but has been vacant since last year when hospitality chain Sonder declared bankruptcy.

The building has 128 units ranging from studios to one-, two- and three-bedroom suites.

Staff say the purchase would leverage funding from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which will cover up to 95 per cent of the $45-million purchase if it's approved before April 1.

"This enables the city to secure a long-term asset at no direct cost to the municipal tax base while simultaneously reducing dependence on external and higher cost accommodation options, such as hotels," the staff report said.

<more>

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottaw...sing-9.7102716

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by phil235

Obviously this provides much-needed shelter space, and the opportunity to purchase a vacant building in that condition is a big plus. That said, I really question the ongoing concentration of these types of facilities in Centretown. There's got to be a concerted effort to spread shelters throughout the city. It's really unfortunate that the central part of the city is forced to bear the lion's share of the burden while being neglected on so many other fronts.

It seems to me that it would make sense to tie shelter place to other resources. Something along the lines that if Centretown/Lowertown has x number of shelter places, it should receive a proportionate boost in funding for transit, health services, recreation etc.

Agreed. It's good, but I wish the City would "spread the love". Plante had a good analogy the other day; everyone would be pissed if the ByWard Market had all the community centres, so why does Downtown have nearly all the shelters/transitional housing?

[J.OT13]

Cross-post, Feds trying to find a building to lease land for affordable housing.

Originally Posted by Ottawacurious

With CMHC leasing land in the area, has the access to the site progressed at all with the NCC?

https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/professi...2169-riverside

290+ Unitshttps://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/professi...D8Aqg&ap=a1-p3


40+ unitshttps://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/professi...ds/canal-woods