Build Canada Homes: A strong start for community housing

22 Sep 2025

The Government of Canada’s announcement of Build Canada Homes (BCH) marks a pivotal step in addressing the housing crisis. For years, CHRA and our members have called for stronger federal leadership to ensure everyone in Canada has a safe, affordable place to call home. BCH signals that the federal government is ready to prioritize non-market housing with new tools, resources, and approaches to make that vision a reality. CHRA’s advocacy has consistently stressed that non-market community housing developers can deliver at speed and at scale, building homes that are affordable, sustainable, and rooted in community needs across the county.

Over the past several months, the CHRA team has worked closely with government officials as BCH has taken shape, bringing forward the experiences of community housing providers across the country. While many details still need to be clarified, BCH has the potential to be a true catalyst for system-wide change.

What’s Looking Good

Non-market focus

The Prime Minister has committed that BCH will focus primarily on non-market housing- CHRA’S top recommendation. This reflects the recognition that lasting affordability requires homes protected from speculation and market volatility.

BCH’s mandate to “Grow the proportion of housing that is non-market, mission driven and affordable to low-and middle-income households” is well aligned with CHRA’s call to more than double the supply of community housing. We will continue to watch closely how “reduced reliance on ongoing government subsidies” is defined.

Clear definition of affordability

CHRA successfully urged BCH to adopt a single, income-based definition of affordability, drawing on the UBC Housing Needs Assessment Tool (HART). This will bring long-needed clarity and consistency to federal programs, ensuring that resources reach the households who need them most.

Transitional and Supportive Housing

CHRA welcomes BCH’s pledge of $ 1 billion for transitional and supportive housing, a crucial investment to help people exit homelessness with the wraparound supports they need. Minister Gregor Robertson’s recognition that BCH must serve those in greatest need is reflected in this early commitment.

Portfolio-based partnership:

BCH’S move toward portfolio funding and faster approvals is a promising step to reduce administrative burden and provide predictability for providers. CHRA recommended this approach at our June workshop, and we are pleased to see it prioritized.

A single-window system for land, financing, and predevelopment funding will further streamline access to capital and help projects move from idea to construction more quickly.

Better alignment with governments

Improved federal-provincial-municipal coordination will help clear persistent barriers, especially for supportive housing. The government’s pledge to balance risk-sharing more fairly is equally important. CHRA members have long been frustrated by CMHC’s risk-averse approach, which often pushes greater risk onto non-profit developers. Early signals suggest BCH may have a stronger appetite for calculated risk. – an essential ingredient to unlock private and philanthropic capital.

What We are Watching Closely

Indigenous Housing:

CHRA is calling for at least 20% of BCH resources to go to For-Indigenous, By-Indigenous (FIBI) housing, governed and delivered buy Indigenous organizations. Indigenous providers already deliver culturally rooted housing across the county. BCH must strengthen and expand this work, not dilute it.

BCH as Developer

The government’s “direct build” model raises both opportunities and risks. Done right, it could accelerate construction while building long-term capacity for community housing providers. Done wrong, it risks creating unnecessary bureaucracy. Community housing providers must be at the table from the start, with lease agreements that maximize flexibility and ultimately lead to community ownership.

Show us the money:

BCH will launch with $ 13 billion in capitalization, including previously announced commitments. The government has promised growth in 2026, but it remains unclear how many non-market homes these investments will generate. What matters most is that BCH delivers homes faster and at greater scale than past National Housing Strategy Programs.

Continuity:

Canada cannot afford delays in the existing project pipeline as BCH rolls out. New standards, such as requirements for modern construction methods, must be phased predictably so that shovel-ready projects are not stranded. Just as important, BCH must invest in sector capacity through reliable, long-term capital and supports like a Canada Community Housing Growth Fund.

Conclusion

Build Canada Homes represents a significant opportunity. If designed and implemented with:

Clear affordability targets,

Strong Indigenous leadership,

Pathways for smaller providers,

A balanced approach to risk

An effective use of federal land and resources

BCH can accelerate delivery while strengthening the institutions that make community housing possible.

But success depends on getting the details right. Continuity in the pipeline, phased standards, predevelopment funding, and capacity investments must be embedded from the start. Above all, BCH must stay focused on expanding non-market and empowering the community housing sector to grow.

CHRA and our members will continue to bring practical expertise and on-the-ground- perspectives as BCH takes shape. We will also create opportunities for our members to engage directly with BCH leadership-at Housing on the Hill, Congress and beyond.

With the right follow-through, Build Canada Homes could be the turning point Canada needs-delivering safe, affordable homes, strengthening communities, and building a fairer, more inclusive Canada for generations to come.