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The Energy Star Portfolio Manager Support Program offers incentives to co-ops that create an Energy Star Portfolio Manager (ESPM) account and share their data with our organizations. It is a partnership of CHF BC and Vancity.

Co-ops who are Vancity members. could access up to $500.

The governments of Canada and British Columbia along with the City of Vancouver announced combined funding of more than $91 million for a major affordable housing project that will build 154 new homes for people living and working in Vancouver.

The project is owned and operated by Community Land Trust in partnership with McLaren Housing Society. The first two floors will be the new home for QMUNITY, a non-profit organization that works to improve queer, transgender, and Two-Spirit lives.

A $500-million rental-protection fund that will help non-profit groups purchase rental buildings has opened in British Columbia.

The fund aims to help First Nations and other non-profit groups buy older “affordable” rental buildings to preserve them as low-cost rental housing.

CMHC recently announced the  Canada Greener Affordable Housing program (CGAH). The program focuses on supporting deep energy retrofits for existing multi-unit residential buildings. The goal is to see buildings achieve near net zero emissions.

As with all CMHC programs, there are multiple eligibility criteria, but the most critical are the very ambitious targets for energy consumption reductions and emissions.

On June 1, 2023, CMHC launched a new time-limited program to support deep energy retrofits (i.e. ≥70% reduction in energy consumption and ≥80% in greenhouse gas emissions).

The Canada Greener Affordable Housing program helps affordable housing providers—including housing co-operative— complete deep energy retrofits on existing multi-unit residential buildings.

We appreciate the focus on improving social supports for low-income Canadians, but are disappointed to see a lack of new investments in affordable housing. Indeed, no number of social supports will do more for low- and middle- income Canadians than ensuring that everybody has access to a safe, secure, affordable place to call home.

Alas, despite communities across the country experiencing explosion in housing need, Budget 2023 does little to address Canada’s worsening housing crisis. Instead, it puts existing affordable housing at risk.

We understand there are many questions about when the Fund will be operational and how it will work, and we wanted to update you with the information we’ve confirmed over the past month. 

We are thrilled to share news of an important announcement that will take place on Monday, July 11. The announcement brings together several partners on a historic deal for the co-operative housing movement, and we want you to be part of it!

National Resources Canada’s Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure (ZEVIP) funding program can help housing co-ops looking to support the adoption of zero emission vehicles by members.

B.C. Budget Day is February 22, 2022, and Housing Central will be following the release closely for new investments and commitments in community housing in our province.

News and updates from our colleagues at CHF Canada for winter 2022.

Co-ops carry debt for a few reasons: they may still be paying off their original mortgages for construction and land acquisition; they may be borrowing to secure a new lease; or they may undertake significant capital renewals (like new envelopes or parkade membrane replacements) that trigger borrowing.

Whatever the reason for having debt, interest rate trends are worth keeping an eye on.