This program is currently between intakes. Historically continuous intake with rolling review. Current status: between intakes — budget fully committed.
Updated May 2026 · Verified against Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) guidelines
▲ Growing Mixed (Advance + Reimb.) Est. 2022
Forgivable Loan Federal Between Intakes

CMHC Affordable Housing Fund — New Construction (Community Housing Sub-Stream)

Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)
Maximum Funding
Project-based; repayable low-interest...
Between intakes — budget fully committed; next intake date not confirmed as o...
Visit Official Program →
Difficulty
Hard
Payment
Mixed (Advance + Reimb.)
Trend
Growing
First-Timers
—
Co-Funding
Varies
CMHC Affordable Housing Fund — New Construction (Community Housing Sub-Stream) provides up to Project-based; repayable low-interest loans combined with forgivable loan contributions — amount varies by project size, location, and affordability depth. Provides low-interest repayable loans combined with forgivable contributions to non-profit housing providers, co-operatives, and Indigenous organizations building new affordable rental housing. Between intakes — budget fully committed; next intake date not confirmed as of May 2026. Monitor cmhc-schl.gc.ca for reopening announcements.. (As of May 2026, verified against Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) program guidelines)

Eligibility & Details

What this program funds and who can apply

Free

Program Description

Provides low-interest repayable loans combined with forgivable contributions to non-profit housing providers, co-operatives, and Indigenous organizations building new affordable rental housing. The Community Housing Sub-Stream supports mixed-income, mixed-use community housing projects with long-term affordability requirements under Canada's National Housing Strategy.

Eligibility Requirements

  • Non-profit housing organizations, rental co-operatives, and Indigenous housing bodies
  • Municipalities, provincial housing authorities, and public housing providers
  • For-profit developers partnered with a government partner or eligible community housing organization
  • Must be partnered with another organization or level of government and have secured some matching funding from non-CMHC sources
  • Projects must create new affordable rental housing units with affordability maintained for a specified term (typically 20–50 years)
  • Must demonstrate organizational capacity and project readiness
  • Community Housing Sub-Stream: projects must be community housing (non-profit, co-op, or Indigenous) — not market-rate rentals
Provinces
All Provinces
Industries
Housing Construction
Business Stage
Startup Growth Expansion Mature

Quick Assessment

Difficulty
Hard
Competition
High
Est. Hours
200h
First-Timer
Not rated

Funding Details

Amount
Project-based; repayable low-interest loans combined with forgivable loan contributions — amount varies by project size, location, and affordability depth
Type
Forgivable Loan
Level
Federal
Deadline
Between intakes — budget fully committed; next intake date not confirmed as of May 2026. Monitor cmhc-schl.gc.ca for reopening announcements.

Program Scorecard

Competition, effort, and approval at a glance

Hybrid
Competition
High
Effort
~200 hours
Approval
Varies
Accessibility
--/5
Competition
--/5
Approval Rate
--%
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What's in this Playbook

Everything you need to win CMHC Affordable Housing Fund — New Constru... — $19

Not a marketing summary. The actual checklist, intel, and stack strategy reviewers look for.

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How to Win

Insider tips, common pitfalls, and what successful applicants look like

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Insider Tip

The Community Housing Sub-Stream strongly favors projects with deep affordability (rents at 80% or below average market rent) and demonstrated site control. Secure your provincial or municipal partner commitment letter before applying — projects without confirmed co-funding rank lower in evaluation. Engage CMHC's local office early through a pre-application consultation to align your project with current program priorities.

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Rejection Pitfalls 7

  • Project lacks confirmed co-funding or government partnership
  • Affordability targets are insufficient (rents too close to market rate)
  • Organization lacks demonstrated capacity to develop and operate housing
+4 more pitfalls
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Success Profile

A non-profit housing organization, rental co-operative, or Indigenous housing body with organizational capacity, a site in hand or under control, a confirmed municipal or provincial partner, and a project design delivering new affordable rental housing at below-market rents for a long-term affordability commitment.

Premium See what successful applicants for this program actually look like.

Evaluation Criteria

Projects are evaluated on depth of affordability (percentage of units at or below 80% of average market rent and rent levels), project readiness (site control, design, permits), financial feasibility (pro-forma strength, leveraged co-funding), organizational capacity (track record of developing and operating housing), and alignment with National Housing Strategy priorities including Indigenous housing, mixed-income design, and accessibility.

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7 reasons applications get rejected, what winners look like, and exactly what reviewers score on
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Application Playbook

Step-by-step process, required documents, and expenses

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Application Steps

1 Pre-application consultation with CMHC Contact CMHC's local office or 1-800-668-2642 to discuss project eligibility, program fit, and current intake status before investing in a full application.
2 Secure co-funding partners Confirm a provincial, territorial, or municipal government partner and obtain a letter of support or commitment to co-fund. This is de facto required for a competitive application.
3 Prepare application package Assemble organizational profile, financial statements, project description, site documentation, pro-forma projections, and affordability plan per CMHC's application guide.
4 Submit application via CMHC portal Applications are submitted through CMHC's online Affordable Housing Fund application portal (when open). Monitor cmhc-schl.gc.ca for intake openings.
5 CMHC review and due diligence CMHC reviews for eligibility, merit, and financial feasibility. May request additional documentation. Review typically takes 3–12 months.
6 Funding agreement execution Approved projects receive a conditional commitment letter followed by a contribution agreement. Funding is advanced per construction milestones.

Required Documents 8

✓ Organization profile and financial statements (minimum 2 years audited)
✓ Project description and site plan
✓ Pro-forma financial projections (construction and operating period)
✓ Evidence of confirmed or committed equity/co-funding sources
✓ Letter(s) of support from partnering government or organization
✓ Environmental and zoning approvals (or evidence of pursuit)
✓ Affordability plan detailing unit mix, rent levels, and term of affordability
✓ Organizational capacity statement

Eligible Expenses 7

  • Land acquisition (where not already owned or contributed)
  • Hard construction costs (foundations, structure, finishes)
  • Soft costs (architectural, engineering, environmental studies)
  • Development charges and permit fees
  • Financing costs during construction
  • Tenant relocation costs where applicable
  • Accessibility and energy efficiency upgrades

Ineligible Expenses 5

  • Market-rate housing units (non-affordable portions)
  • Commercial or retail development costs unrelated to housing
  • Operating costs post-construction
  • Land costs already covered by a government contribution
  • Refinancing of existing debt

Intake Periods

Historically continuous intake with rolling review. Current status: between intakes — budget fully committed. Monitor CMHC website for $1.5B top-up intake announcement expected 2025–26 fiscal year.

Deadline Notes

The Community Housing Sub-Stream budget was fully committed as of 2025. A $1.5B top-up for New Construction was announced for 2025–26. Applicants should monitor CMHC's website and the Build Canada Homes portal for new intake openings. Historically applications were accepted on a continuous-intake basis with rolling review.

Open Application Portal →

Ineligible Organizations

  • For-profit developers applying without a qualifying community housing partner or government co-funder
  • Organizations in default on existing CMHC agreements
  • Applicants proposing purely market-rate rental housing
  • Organizations without demonstrated capacity to develop or manage housing
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Funding Stack Strategy

Compatible programs, clawback risk, and combined funding potential

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Compatible Programs

CMHC Apartment Construction Loan Program (ACLP) Provincial Affordable Housing Programs Municipal Land Grants / Below-Market Land Leases
Combined Funding Potential See your total funding potential

Clawback Risk

High Risk

High — forgivable loan contributions are subject to full or partial repayment if affordability covenants are breached during the commitment period (typically 20–50 years). CMHC registers a mortgage or restrictive covenant on the property to secure the commitment. Any sale, refinancing, or change of use that violates the affordability requirement may trigger repayment of the full forgivable contribution.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to the questions founders most often ask about CMHC Affordable Housing Fund — New Constru...

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Can a for-profit developer apply for the Community Housing Sub-Stream?
Only with a qualifying community housing partner — the sub-stream is designed for non-profit, co-operative, and Indigenous housing providers. For-profit developers partnering with such an organization may be eligible, but the community housing organization must be the lead applicant.
What is the difference between the repayable loan and the forgivable contribution?
The repayable loan is a low-interest mortgage that must be repaid over time. The forgivable loan is a contribution that is forgiven (written off) if the project maintains its affordability targets for the full commitment period — typically 20 to 50 years. Breach of affordability covenants can trigger repayment of the forgivable amount.
Is the AHF open for applications right now?
As of May 2026, the Community Housing Sub-Stream budget has been fully committed and the portal is closed. A $1.5B top-up for New Construction was announced for the 2025–26 fiscal year — monitor cmhc-schl.gc.ca for the next intake opening.
Do I need provincial government support to apply?
Yes — the program requires applicants to be partnered with another organization or level of government and to have secured co-funding from non-CMHC sources. A provincial or municipal government support letter is effectively required for a competitive application.

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