Earlier today, the Minister of Finance, the Hon. Bill Morneau, presented the federal government’s 2017 Budget. You will find a copy of the press release issued by CHRA below, and a summary of measures contained in the Budget impacting the housing sector.  Many of the specific measures contained in the Budget were lifted directly from CHRA’s 2016 submission to the National Housing Strategy consultation. 

CHRA will be communicating its reaction to the Budget with elected and bureaucratic officials.  In addition, over the next few days, CHRA will be organizing an opportunity for members to hear more about the measures contained in Budget 2017.  Information about this opportunity will be sent out shortly.

If you have questions or comments about the Budget, please contact CHRA Executive Director Jeff Morrison at jmorrison@chra-achru.ca.

CHRA Applauds Social and Affordable Housing Announcements in Budget 2017

The Canadian Housing and Renewal Association today applauded the announcements related to social and affordable housing announced by Finance Minister Bill Morneau in the 2017 federal Budget.  The initiatives announced in Budget 2017 closely mirror the recommendations put forth by CHRA in its submission to the 2016 National Housing Strategy consultation.
 
Among the key measures in the 2017 Budget include:

• $11.2 billion over 11 years to support a National Housing Strategy.  This funding would be split as follows:
  • $3.2 billion for provinces and territories to support key priorities, such as renovation of existing units, construction of new units, or rent subsidies
  • $5 billion for a new National Housing Fund, which will be used to support innovations in affordable housing, encourage collaboration amongst housing providers, expand direct lending for new rental housing, and creation of a new Sector Transformation Fund to help social housing providers transition to new operating models.
  • $300 million for Northern housing
  • $225 million for urban and rural Indigenous housing
  • $2.1 billion to expand the Homelessness Partnering Strategy
  • $202 million to expand the Surplus Federal Real Property for Homelessness Initiative
  • $241 million for housing research, which will be used to collect indicators, including an additional $39.9 million to develop a new Housing Statistics Framework.
• In addition, the Budget committed to “preserve the baseline funding related to Operating Agreements, with the use and renewal of these funds to be determined over the next year”.  These funds will be over and above the $11.2 billion, and are estimated at approximately $4 billion.

 
The government stated that more details regarding these investments will be announced as part of the National Housing Strategy, to be unveiled later in 2017.
 
“Today’s budget contains welcome announcements in reshaping the policy tools available to the social, non-profit and affordable housing sector,“ stated Stephan Corriveau, President of CHRA. “However, as Operating Agreements are already expiring, and existing social housing capacity is put at risk, we hope the federal government will accelerate its investments in social housing in the years ahead.  In addition, the needs of urban and rural Indigenous providers are great, and therefore we call on the government to take bolder action in this area.  But overall, today is a positive step forward ”, he added.
 
“CHRA is very pleased that the federal government adopted many of CHRA’s specific recommendations, including a Sector Transformation Fund, funding for urban Indigenous housing, increasing the Surplus Federal Real Property for Homelessness Initiative, and creating a new housing research body.  CHRA looks forward to working with Minister Duclos and the federal government over the coming year to flesh out these and other details related to the National Housing Strategy , particularly with regard to improving the urban and rural Indigenous housing component,” added Jeff Morrison, Executive Director of CHRA. 
 
CHRA’s members include housing providers, municipalities, businesses, all 13 provincial and territorial housing departments, service and support agencies, individuals, students and other housing-related associations and networks.

Summary of measures contained in the 2017 federal Budget 

• $3.2 billion for provinces and territories to invest in their priorities related to affordable housing.  These priorities could include construction of new affordable housing, renovation of existing housing, rent subsidies, etc.  This funding will replace the Investment in Affordable Program scheduled to expire in 2018-19.

• $5 billion for a new National Housing Fund.  The details of this Fund will be announced as part of the launch of the National Housing Strategy set to occur later in 2017.  Among the goals of this fund include:
  • Encouragement of greater collaboration and investment in housing
  • Expand direct lending for new rental housing supply and renewal
  • Supporting innovations in affordable housing
  • Preserve the affordability of social housing to support social housing provider transition to more sustainable operating models
  • Establish a new Sector Transformation Fund and Technical Resource Centre to provide technical assistance, tools and resources to help social housing providers with transitional strategies
• $300 million to target support for Northern Housing
• $225 million for providers who serve Indigenous people not living on reserve.  This funding will help with capital repairs, and ensure the continued affordability of existing units.
• $2.1 billion to expand and extend funding for the Homelessness Partnering Strategy beyond 2018-19 when funding is set to end.  This funding will be guided by a new advisory panel on homelessness that is currently being created.
• $202 million to expand the Surplus Federal Real Property for Homelessness Initiative.
• $241 million to improve data collection and analytics, including $39.9 million to enable Statistics Canada to develop a new Housing Statistics Framework.