Affordable Housing Innovation Fund
CMHC fund supporting new ideas, financing models and designs that lower the cost and risk of affordable housing (e.g. modular/prefabricated construction, novel financing) and reduce dependence on ongoing government subsidy. Open to a wide range of housing providers including private developers. NOTE: the application portal is currently CLOSED (budget fully committed) per the official page.
What you get
Funding for affordable housing
Who it's for
Municipalities, provinces, territories, private-sector developers and builders, non-profit housing providers, community housing organizations, Indigenous governments and organizations, and other housing providers.
This takes you to the official website
What to have ready
Documents they may ask for
- Government ID for everyone in your household, if available
- A copy of your lease or rent agreement
- Recent rent receipt, ledger, or proof of what you owe
- Recent pay stubs, benefit statement, or income proof
- ODSP, Ontario Works, CPP, OAS, or other benefit statement if you have one
- Recent bank statement, if the program asks for it
What to say when you call
“Hi, I found your housing support program and I want to check if I can apply. Can you tell me the current rules, documents needed, and the next step?”
Use the official page first, then call 211 if you are not sure where to start.
What to do next
Check off each step as you go — we'll remember where you are.
Checkmarks are saved only on this device. We collect nothing.
The fine print
More details about the money
Amount and type of funding vary based on the proposals received (CMHC does not publish a fixed per-project figure on the program page); some form of security may be required. Funding was made available for 6 years as of 2022 or until all funds are committed, whichever comes first. The budget is currently fully committed.
Amounts and eligibility change. Confirm the current figure with the program administrator through the official link before you rely on it.
The full eligibility rules
Municipalities, provinces, territories, private-sector developers and builders, non-profit housing providers, community housing organizations, Indigenous governments and organizations, and other housing providers. Projects must remain affordable for at least 10 years (affordability set by local/municipal criteria), use an innovative approach (transformational, breakthrough, or incremental), show financial sustainability (ideally reducing reliance on government subsidy), and include a knowledge-transfer plan.
Good to know
CORRECTIONS applied: (1) Status set to CLOSED. The live CMHC page states 'CMHC has received sufficient applications to fully commit the Affordable Housing Innovation Fund budget. The application portal is now closed.' The draft's 'medium confidence / 2025 re-opening' framing leaned on a news release that contradicts the live page; the live official page wins, so I did not assert a current re-opening. (2) Removed the unverified 'innovationfund@cmhc.ca' address; the contact on the official page is contactcentre@cmhc.ca / 1-800-668-2642. (3) Dropped the unverified 'Encampment Response Plan priority' claim (not on the official page; the page references modular projects only as past examples, not a stated current priority). Removed the 2025 news-release source URL since it conflicts with the live status. Verify live intake directly with CMHC before relying on any 'open' claim.
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Funding for affordable housing
MLI Select (Multi-Unit Mortgage Loan Insurance)
CMHC's multi-unit mortgage loan insurance product that rewards landlords/developers who commit to affordability, energy efficiency and/or accessibility with better financing terms (higher loan-to-value/cost, longer amortizations and recourse flexibility).
Up to $15,000
Oxford County My Second Unit (Secondary Dwelling Forgivable Loan)
An Oxford County program offering homeowners an interest-free, forgivable loan of up to $15,000 to help plan and finance a secondary, self-contained dwelling unit in their home (e.g.
Up to $45,000
Affordable Rental Housing Program (City of London - Dollars to Doors)
London's incentive that provides up to $45,000 per new affordable rental unit (as a loan) to offset construction costs, in exchange for keeping rents at 80% of CMHC average market rent for at least 25 years.