Capital Development or Renewal Opportunities
Manitoba Government Making it Easier for Organizations to Build Affordable Housing and End Chronic Homelessness
New Housing Portal Opens to Help Connect Projects with Funding:
The Manitoba government is making it easier for organizations to secure funding to build affordable housing so more Manitobans can find a safe place to call home.
The new Housing Starts Here online portal is simplifying the application process for a new $26-million capital grant program for non-profit organizations, Indigenous governments and municipalities, which will support the development of 350 social housing units in 2024-25.
Through the new ongoing intake application portal, interested organizations can apply for forgivable loans to acquire existing buildings that could be renovated into new social housing units, renovate derelict stock or construct new units. The portal will also include applications for rent supplements to ensure rents remain low and funding for support services to ensure people experiencing or at risk of homelessness have access to the services they need to stay housed, the minister noted.
In addition to the $26 million for Housing Starts Here portal, the province is also increasing the Proposal Development Fund (PDF) to $5 million for non-profit organizations to access capital grant funding. PDF loans assist organizations to engage professional services to help bring their affordable housing proposals to the financing stage. Grants of up to $250,000 will be available through the fund, which will also offer repayable loans of up to $50,000.
Preservation Funding
Preservation Funding provides financial assistance to support the cost of completing preservation activities.
This funding helps:
- existing community housing providers remain viable
- prepare for future funding opportunities
Preservation Funding is open to:
- Projects that are currently subject to an active, eligible federally administered operating agreement.
- Projects that were previously subject to a federally administered operating agreement that have since expired. This includes projects previously administered under a federally administered operating agreement that were transferred under a Social Housing Agreement (SHA) which have since expired.
Funding details:
- The maximum Preservation Funding available per project to complete eligible activities is $50,000.
- Maximum funding may be increased to $75,000 on a case-by-case basis.
- Each Funding Agreement offers up to 18 months from the approval date to complete the approved activities.
Activities may include but are not limited to:
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- a building condition report
- capital replacement reserve planning
- an operating viability analysis
- an age-friendly conversion assessment
- an energy audit
City of Winnipeg Affordable Housing Now Program
The Affordable Housing Now Program, which is being administered in partnership with Centre Venture Development Corporation, is eligible to project proponents intending to participate in CMHC affordable housing programs under the National Housing Strategy for the development of new rental and non-profit housing.
The program will provide $2 million in grants to offset construction and permit fees, offer tax increment financing (TIF) opportunities of up to 80% of municipal incremental tax increases arising from development, and will enable proponents to access existing federal programs that may require support from another level of government.
Tax Sale properties – opportunities for non profits
The Council has recently approved a new Real Estate sales Policy which requires the Public Service to market all tax sale properties to non-profit housing corporations (note Section 4.3(D)(iv) of the policy).
This provides additional acquisition opportunities for affordable Housing providers outside of the Affordable Housing Opportunities in HIZs program. These properties will be marketed at the same link as the noted program:
Affordable Housing Fund
The Affordable Housing Fund (formerly, the Co-Investment Fund) provides grants and financing for new affordable housing construction and existing affordable housing renewal and repair.
Canada Greener Affordable Housing Program
Canada Greener Affordable Housing provides low-interest loans and grants for deep energy retrofits. Multi-unit (5+) residential can access the program if they target at 70% reduction in energy comsumption and an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emmissions.
Applications for retrofit funding are accepted on a continuous basis until the available funding have been fully committed. Learn more and apply here
Efficiency Manitoba
Efficiency Manitoba is a Crown corporation dedicated to energy efficiency. They offer programs and rebates to help non-profit housing providers and their tenants reduce their electricity and natural gas use, saving energy, money, and the environment.
Efficiency Manitoba’s Energy Efficiency Assistance Program provides single-detached or semi-detached rental properties with qualifying low- to moderate-income tenants with free and significantly subsidized energy efficiency upgrades. An energy advisor will assess energy-saving opportunities for each of the units. Non-profit housing providers can qualify for free insulation, a subsidized natural gas furnace, a boiler rebate, and free energy-saving devices such as LED light bulbs, energy-efficient showerheads, and faucet aerators.
If a non-profit housing agreement requires tenants to income qualify, or if there’s a mandate stating that housing is intended for lower-income households or offers rent-geared-to-income, the income qualification process can be bypassed. Check out this article on Efficiency Manitoba’s website to learn more.
Non-profit housing providers may also qualify for Efficiency Manitoba’s Commercial Energy Audit Program, Commercial Deep Energy Retrofit Program, or In-Suite Energy Efficiency Program.
The Commercial Energy Audit Program provides financial incentives and technical support for building owners that complete ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers) Level 2 or 3 energy audits for commercial buildings. Building owners will receive a detailed report from the audit summarizing energy-saving opportunities for their building’s envelope, lighting, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems, as well as applicable Efficiency Manitoba incentives.
The Commercial Deep Energy Retrofit Program provides incentives to help building owners undertake major energy efficiency renovations. Incentives and technical support are available for projects that will reduce a building’s energy use by 20% or more from the pre-renovation baseline energy use.
The In-Suite Energy Efficiency Program helps property managers and owners of multi-unit residential buildings improve the energy efficiency of the suites in their buildings. Through the program, the suites can receive free Basic Upgrades such as A-line bulbs, faucet aerators, and water heater pipe wrap. They also offer incentives of up to $250 for Premium Upgrades which includes all the Basic Upgrades plus incentives for smart thermostats and advanced HRV controls.
To learn more about Efficiency Manitoba’s programs, visit efficiencyMB.ca
If you need help determining which program is right for you, contact MNPHA’s Energy Efficiency Program Coordinator, Olaide, at [email protected]
Federation of Canadian Municipalities – Sustainable Affordable Housing
The Green Municipal Fund offers support throughout the life cycle of an affordable housing construction project through five funding options:
- Planning: Early support to assist eligible housing providers to get started on achieving more sustainable affordable housing initiatives
- Studies: Assess the approaches needed to implement an eligible energy efficient pilot or capital project in detail
- Pilot projects: Test out a new or innovative approach on a small scale
- Retrofit capital projects: Complete the renovation of existing housing units with the installation of energy efficient technologies
- New-build capital projects: Construct new homes that are highly energy efficient
Read the application guide for details.
Need help applying for the Sustainable Affordable Housing Fund? Contact Fardeen, the Regional Energy Coach for the Prairies at [email protected]
Manitoba Social Housing Funding
Homelessness Rent Supplement Program
Manitoba Housing is requesting Expressions of Interest for landlords willing to enter into rent supplement agreements for designated units in their properties and rent those units to people who are exiting homelessness. The current need is primarily for studio and one bedroom units with some two- and three-bedroom units also welcome.
To be eligible for the EOI, organizations must be non-profit housing providers or for profit landlords willing to lease residential rental units to people exiting homelessness
The application is open until filled.
See the full EOI here and apply by filling in the application form here
New Funding Model through Manitoba Housing as Operating Agreements Expire
Manitoba Housing is establishing a block funding model designed to provide predictable and flexible funding to the non-profit sector. The funding is available to housing projects who have already come off their original agreements, and those that will soon be coming off.
Under the proposed model, the funding can:
- subsidize rents
- meet the rising costs of operations
- support an annual allocation to the replacement reserve fund
Manitoba Housing has allocated up to $1.4 million toward these new agreements in 2023/24, and depending on uptake, will make additional funding available in future years. At this time, the intent is to share information about the proposed model and determine the level of interest on the part of non-profit housing providers to enter into a new funding agreement on this basis.
For more information on the proposed block funding model, and to express interest in participating in the program, please contact the Portfolio Management Branch at 204-945-4661 or e-mail [email protected]
Program or Project Opportunities
Manitoba Accessibility Fund
The Manitoba Accessibility Fund (MAF) provides one-time, project-based grants to help municipalities, non-profit organizations and businesses in Manitoba to remove barriers, create awareness and support compliance with The Accessibility for Manitobans Act and its standards.
The Manitoba Accessibility Fund, managed by The Winnipeg Foundation, was launched in 2021 with an initial $20-million investment. Administered by the Department of Families, the annual grant distribution and investment returns are used to fund accessibility projects and initiatives from eligible Manitoba-based organizations.
The Non-Profit Community Pest Control Grant Program
The Non-Profit Community Pest Control Grant Program provides grants to non-profits to address pest infestations in two streams. The first stream is for non-profit organizations that require financial assistance to undertake education, treatment, and prevention activities required to eliminate pests. The second is the Homelessness Support stream which supports non-profits group working with tenants for whom managing pests is a barrier to acquiring or maintaining housing. The program receives applications on an ongoing basis until the program budget is fully committed.
Community Foundations
Manitoba is home to over 50 community foundations, which guide volunteer efforts and financial support to organizations like MNPHA’s members. Most community foundations require charitable status to access their funding, but many allow non-profits to partner with a charity when they have shared mandates. Find your local community foundation here
Elderly and Infirm Persons Housing License
The Elderly and Infirm Persons Housing Act provides school tax exempt status for units that meet specific size, tenant age, and rent-to-income ratio criteria. Most projects developed under operating agreements qualify for this program, and size guidelines were grandfathered; post-operating agreement, the age and rent-to-income ratio requirements still apply, though it can be for only a portion (100%, 75%, 50%, or 25%) of units. While units become exempt from the school tax, they are treated as “institutional” and move into a different municipal tax category.
Download the application form here and MNPHA has created a template for calculating the tax changes associated with the License, you can download it as an excel document here.
Financing Opportunities
RBC Foundation
RBC Foundation Community Infrastructure Fund
The Community Infrastructure Fund (CIF) will help fund retrofits, repairs and upgrades of existing community spaces, as well as the construction of new spaces, with the goal of increasing sustainability and accessibility of buildings in our communities.
Who can apply? The fund is open to hospitals, cultural institutions, community centres and other registered charities in Canada. For example, as a non-profit housing organization this means that a community centre could benefit from CIF
How is funding determined? The amount of funding is based on the organization’s size and reach, and the regional population, between $25,000 and $2.5 million, payable over a maximum of five years. Projects must be completed within the approved funding term. Please note: RBC Foundation typically funds no more than the equivalent of 20% of an organization’s operating budget.
Eligibility criteria ▪ The organization is the owner of the space OR is in possession of a lease agreement with at least five years remaining at the time of the application deadline and has owner permission to complete the project as described. ▪
Jubilee Fund
The Jubilee Fund provides flexible financing in the form of loan guarantees and/or bridge financing for worthy projects who do not qualify for traditional financing. Visit http://www.jubileefund.ca/ for more info.
Assiniboine Credit Union
ACU offers flexible financing for non-profits and cooperatives through a dedicated Community Financial Centre. For more information, please visit: https://www.assiniboine.mb.ca/Business/Community-Financial-Centre/
Housing Investment Corporation
The Housing Investment Corporation provides long-term (30+ year), low-cost financing to affordable housing providers for development or redevelopment. Manitoba Housing is one of the founding partners, and Terry Kozak is the Manitoba contact. Reach him by e-mail here. Learn more on the Housing Investment Corporation website
First National Financial LP End of Operating Agreement Revitalization Program
The End of Operating Agreement (EOA) Revitalization Program provides low cost loans to housing providers at or near the end of their operating agreements. This program is aimed at those housing providers that have expired operating agreements, those planning for the end of their operating agreement or providers looking to payout their agreement early. Municipalities, non-profit housing providers, Co-op (excluding equity Co-op’s) or anyone with a current Section 95 and Section 26/27 or any housing provider in a federal or provincial operating agreement are also eligible for the program.
Information is available on First National LP’s website