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December 11, 2024
Council approved $8.3 million of grant funding from the Affordable Housing Investment Program (AHIP) for essential affordable housing developments that will significantly impact the lives of Indigenous individuals and families.
Currently, one in three Indigenous renter households are in core housing need, meaning they pay too much for housing or live in crowded or unsafe conditions and can’t afford to move. This number is projected to increase in the next five years.
The unique Indigenous-led housing stream of the AHIP, launched in 2023, aims to encourage the construction of more Indigenous-led affordable housing in Edmonton to uplift and empower Indigenous communities. Grant funding will be invested in three organizations to develop safe, affordable and sustainable housing for Indigenous individuals experiencing homelessness, low-income families and women and children escaping domestic violence.
The funding will support one transitional housing and two affordable housing developments, resulting in the construction of 93 new units (152 bedrooms) of affordable housing in Edmonton. This substantial investment is part of the ongoing efforts to enhance the availability of affordable housing and improve the lives of those in need.
"We are committed to advancing reconciliation and responding to the need for culturally appropriate affordable and supportive housing for Indigenous individuals and families. The approval of these grants is a significant milestone in our ongoing efforts to address the housing needs of our community," said Mayor Amarjeet Sohi.
Earlier this fall, Council approved $19.2 million in AHIP funding to support two affordable housing, three supportive housing and two transitional housing developments. This will result in the construction of 275 new units (407 bedrooms) and 22 rehabilitated units (22 bedrooms) of affordable housing in Edmonton. These developments will provide safe, affordable and sustainable housing for people experiencing homelessness, Indigenous peoples, veterans, low-income families and women and children fleeing domestic violence.
By supporting these applications, AHIP helps reduce barriers to housing equity in Edmonton and brings the total committed units to 2,879, surpassing the 2,700 unit target for 2023 to 2026.
Quick Facts
- One in eight households, and one in four renter households are in core housing need.
- Approximately 56 per cent of people experiencing houselessness in Edmonton identify as Indigenous.
- By 2031, Edmonton will need 39,700 more affordable rental housing units, 1,400 - 1,700 units of supportive housing and 189 units of Transitional Housing to address the demand for affordable, adequate and suitable housing.
- AHIP provides grant funding to eligible non-profit and private sector entities, targeting shovel-ready proposals to encourage affordable housing development in Edmonton, in alignment with City Policy C601 - Affordable Housing Investment Guidelines.
- The grants from the Indigenous-led Housing stream of AHIP provide crucial support, covering up to 25 per cent of the capital costs of newly constructed or rehabilitated affordable housing developments and up to 40 per cent for developments that exceed affordability and energy efficiency requirements, providing larger unit sizes for families.
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