Housing Accelerator Fund
Come visit us at one of our in-person pop-up events in early September to provide your feedback on the current housing needs and challenges in Hamilton. An online survey is also available until September 15.
Justin Lewis, Director
Email [email protected]
Affordable Housing Development Project Stream Application
The Project Stream will help organize new affordable housing construction projects to meet the objectives set out in the Housing Sustainability & Investment Roadmap.
On October 10, 2023, the Federal Government announced a Housing Accelerator Fund Agreement with the City of Hamilton, investing $93.5 million in funding.
Through the Housing Accelerator Fund investment, the City of Hamilton is geared up to surpass its previous records. Aiming high, the City has set a target to add a remarkable 2,675 net new residential units over the next three years.
To ensure the success of this ambitious target, the City of Hamilton has updated the Housing for Hamilton Community Improvement Plan and developed a HAF Housing Action Plan that comprises seven (7) strategic initiatives designed to propel housing development.
The City of Hamilton welcomes all homeowners and developers to embark on this journey towards a more vibrant and sustainable future for Hamilton’s housing landscape.
Program Incentives
The Additional Dwelling Unit and Multi-Plex Housing Incentive Program is intended to provide financial incentives to support the creation of Additional Dwelling Units or Garden Suites within, or on the same property as, new or existing low-density houses or the creation of multi-plex developments with six (6) or less Dwelling Units.
Program incentives provided:
- Grant to rebate the City application fee (excluding HST) for each building permit successfully issued to construct an individual eligible unit or a building containing eligible units to a maximum of $2,000 per building permit and/or
- 15-year, forgiven loan of $25,000 per eligible unit (s) intending to meet the affordability parameters of this program to a maximum of $150,000 per site.
Applicants must have received an Occupancy Permit from the City of Hamilton to be eligible for this incentive. For information on the building permit application process, visit Additional Dwelling Units.
Submit Additional Dwelling Units and Multi-Plex Housing Incentive Program Application
The Rapid Transit Multi-Residential Rental Housing Incentive Program is intended to provide financial incentives to support the creation of seven (7) or more net new residential rental and/or affordable residential rental units on Sites with or without pre-existing development and located in close proximity to strategic rapid transit corridors.
Program incentives provided:
- Grant of $50,000 for the creation of seven (7) or more net new Eligible Rental Units on a Site and/or
- 15-year forgivable loan of $25,000 per eligible rental unit(s) intending to meet the affordability parameters of this program to a maximum of $2,500,000 per site.
Applicants must have received an Building Permit from the City of Hamilton to be eligible for this incentive.
Submit Rapid Transit Multi-Residential Rental Housing Incentive Program
The Housing Acceleration Incentive Program is intended to provide financial incentives to support the creation of seven (7) or more net new housing units and/or affordable rental housing units on sites which have been the subject of a City-led land use planning initiative that occurred after April 7, 2022, and which removed barriers in order to support of new housing creation.
Program incentives provided:
- Grant of $35,000 for the creation of seven (7) or more net new eligible units on a site and/or
- 15-year forgivable loan of $25,000 per eligible unit(s) intending to meet the affordability parameters of this program to a maximum of $2,500,000 per site subject to funding availability.
Applicants must have received an Building Permit from the City of Hamilton to be eligible for this incentive.
Identifying opportunities to dispose of City-owned land and acquire other under-utilized land and properties for the purpose of developing affordable housing.
- A comprehensive review will identify surplus lands and create a process for disposition.
- The City will also look to acquire properties for redevelopment and develop strategies to integrate housing into non-residential buildings and as part of new municipal buildings.
Creating and enhancing the City’s programs and incentives to promote housing supply.
- Changes to existing policy frameworks, enhancements to existing incentives (such as tax grants and low-interest loans) and new programs or incentives will collectively address challenges to building market, rental, and affordable housing.
- These changes and incentives will support gentle densification in built-up areas with community infrastructure and amenities.
Assessing housing development opportunities and updating zoning to promote transit-oriented development along the full rapid transit network, building on work already underway for the City’s LRT corridor.
- A detailed assessment will identify housing needs and assess optimal densities and other land use considerations, including the capacity of existing infrastructure to support increased density.
- Planning rules will then be updated to allow higher-density residential development and encourage new affordable housing in these corridors.
The Enhanced Brownfield Remediation Incentive will enhance the City’s existing Environmental (ERASE) Program that provides financial incentives to develop housing on brownfields – undeveloped or previously developed industrial or commercial properties that may be contaminated.
Program incentives provided:
- Expanding the ERASE Program to provide financial assistance for the remediation of brownfield lands to support new development.
- The ERASE Affordable Housing Grant will support non-profit housing developers to complete remediation and achieve a record of site condition required to facilitate development.
ERASE Affordable Housing Grant (EAHG) Program - Invest in Hamilton