The City of Thunder Bay was approved for up to $20.7 million dollars in federal funding from the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) in February 2024 to support development of over 600 new housing units over the next three years, to reach a total of 1,691 new permitted homes by February 2027.

The City’s HAF Action Plan outlines eight initiatives aimed at increasing housing development. Financial incentives through this funding will be allocated in the form of grants, helping to achieve a range of housing options and affordability levels, and improving the city's financial position by adding density within the existing serviced area. Two grants are now available, including:

Affordable Rental Housing Funding Program

This program is intended to provide funding to Not-For-Profit Corporations to support up to 38 new, affordable rental units. Funding contributions under the Program are intended to assist Not-For-Profit organizations in constructing new, affordable residential rental housing for low- and moderate-income households. Program contributions are intended to help offset some of the capital costs of constructing Affordable Units and Market Units in the community. Deadline to apply is July 21.

Construction Assistance Grant Program

The Construction Assistance Grant Program is a stand-alone grant stream and is available for eligible projects within the city's Strategic Core Areas: (North Core, South Core and Westfort project areas), designed to stimulate development of new residential units in these areas and support property owners and developers with financial incentives to help develop new units.

Grants are available up to $20,000/unit for single bedroom and up to $30,000/unit for two or more bedrooms for the cost to construct new residential units, to a maximum of $100,000 per property. This grant can also be stacked with other Strategic Core Area grants. The program is first come, first serve and will close when funding has been exhausted.

“These programs support the City’s housing targets and align with our strategic goal to support urban density through complete, compact, and walkable development,” said Summer Stevenson, Project Manager of the HAF. “We want to increase our housing supply and become a community that is more affordable, diverse and climate-resilient.”

To learn more about the grants available, and to fill out an application, visit: www.thunderbay.ca/HAF

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Contact:       Stacey Levanen, Supervisor – Corporate Communications & Community Engagement, 807-625-3650