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Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan

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Consultation has concluded

About the project

Guelph’s Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan (CIP) will provide financial incentives for developers and homebuilders to rehabilitate existing housing supply in Guelph into affordable purpose-built rentals and build new affordable rental and ownership units, including affordable additional dwelling units (ADUs).

Gaps in Guelph’s housing market that have been identified in the State of Housing Report (2023) will guide the CIP objectives.

Details about the proposed programs for the CIP are outlined in the presentation and information boards.

What is a CIP?

Under the direction of the Municipal Act and Planning Act, municipalities can use CIPs as tools to incentivize the private sector to rehabilitate land and existing buildings as well as develop new infrastructure to shape local needs and priorities.

The financial incentives proposed in Guelph’s Affordable Housing CIP include:

Program 1: Vacant unit renewal grant: A one-time grant to boost the development of affordable primary rental units from existing vacant and uninhabitable buildings. The grant would provide up to $100,000 per unit to cover construction costs.

Program 2: New affordable housing unit grant: A one-time grant to incentivize newly constructed housing into affordable owned or rented housing units. The grant would provide up to $25,000 per unit as an upfront property tax rebate.

Program 3: Additional dwelling unit grant: A grant designed to encourage homeowners and landlords to renovate their homes or properties to accommodate new housing units. It also allows for the construction of affordable housing units, such as tiny homes or garden suites, on the property.

The grant provides two streams of potential funding: a homeowner stream and a project stream.

  • Homeowner Stream: You can receive up to $50,000 as part of the grant program.
  • Project Stream: You can receive up to $140,000 as part of the grant program.

Read the the Program Document to find out more specific information. Council will be considering the Affordable Housing CIP for approval on February 11, 2025.

Since 2004, Guelph has used CIPs. Previous programs have supported brownfield redevelopment, downtown renewal and the conservation of designated heritage assets.

City’s Housing Affordability Strategy

Increasing the supply of affordable housing is a priority in Guelph. We are using $3.2 million and $2.5 million in funding received through the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund to create a new affordable housing CIP program. The CIP aims to meet the targets set out by the Housing Accelerator Fund action plan and the Province of Ontario housing pledge of 18,000 new homes by 2031.

On December 10, 2024, City of Guelph Council approved the new 2024 Housing Affordability Strategy. This new Strategy includes several strategic actions aimed at making progress toward the affordable housing targets outlined in the City’s Official Plan. The Strategy also provides an Implementation and Monitoring Plan to provide further direction. One of the high priority actions identified in the Implementation and Monitoring Plan is the creation of an Affordable Housing CIP.

To learn more about the overall Housing Affordability Strategy and the additional ongoing projects under the Housing Accelerator Fund, visit Guelph’s Housing Accelerator Fund Action Plan Webpage.

How to participate

Since June 2024, we have come together in person and online to share information about the project. Thank you for your input. Please review the Affordable Housing CIP engagement summary to see how community feedback was used to develop the draft CIP.

We're presenting information to Council next and the public is invited to participate.

At Council:

On November 13, we presented the project at the Council planning meeting. After reviewing feedback, we will then present the project to Council for approval on February 11, 2025.

Online:

Still have questions? Ask them using the question tool below. To learn more, please review the presentation and information boards.

About the project

Guelph’s Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan (CIP) will provide financial incentives for developers and homebuilders to rehabilitate existing housing supply in Guelph into affordable purpose-built rentals and build new affordable rental and ownership units, including affordable additional dwelling units (ADUs).

Gaps in Guelph’s housing market that have been identified in the State of Housing Report (2023) will guide the CIP objectives.

Details about the proposed programs for the CIP are outlined in the presentation and information boards.

What is a CIP?

Under the direction of the Municipal Act and Planning Act, municipalities can use CIPs as tools to incentivize the private sector to rehabilitate land and existing buildings as well as develop new infrastructure to shape local needs and priorities.

The financial incentives proposed in Guelph’s Affordable Housing CIP include:

Program 1: Vacant unit renewal grant: A one-time grant to boost the development of affordable primary rental units from existing vacant and uninhabitable buildings. The grant would provide up to $100,000 per unit to cover construction costs.

Program 2: New affordable housing unit grant: A one-time grant to incentivize newly constructed housing into affordable owned or rented housing units. The grant would provide up to $25,000 per unit as an upfront property tax rebate.

Program 3: Additional dwelling unit grant: A grant designed to encourage homeowners and landlords to renovate their homes or properties to accommodate new housing units. It also allows for the construction of affordable housing units, such as tiny homes or garden suites, on the property.

The grant provides two streams of potential funding: a homeowner stream and a project stream.

  • Homeowner Stream: You can receive up to $50,000 as part of the grant program.
  • Project Stream: You can receive up to $140,000 as part of the grant program.

Read the the Program Document to find out more specific information. Council will be considering the Affordable Housing CIP for approval on February 11, 2025.

Since 2004, Guelph has used CIPs. Previous programs have supported brownfield redevelopment, downtown renewal and the conservation of designated heritage assets.

City’s Housing Affordability Strategy

Increasing the supply of affordable housing is a priority in Guelph. We are using $3.2 million and $2.5 million in funding received through the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund to create a new affordable housing CIP program. The CIP aims to meet the targets set out by the Housing Accelerator Fund action plan and the Province of Ontario housing pledge of 18,000 new homes by 2031.

On December 10, 2024, City of Guelph Council approved the new 2024 Housing Affordability Strategy. This new Strategy includes several strategic actions aimed at making progress toward the affordable housing targets outlined in the City’s Official Plan. The Strategy also provides an Implementation and Monitoring Plan to provide further direction. One of the high priority actions identified in the Implementation and Monitoring Plan is the creation of an Affordable Housing CIP.

To learn more about the overall Housing Affordability Strategy and the additional ongoing projects under the Housing Accelerator Fund, visit Guelph’s Housing Accelerator Fund Action Plan Webpage.

How to participate

Since June 2024, we have come together in person and online to share information about the project. Thank you for your input. Please review the Affordable Housing CIP engagement summary to see how community feedback was used to develop the draft CIP.

We're presenting information to Council next and the public is invited to participate.

At Council:

On November 13, we presented the project at the Council planning meeting. After reviewing feedback, we will then present the project to Council for approval on February 11, 2025.

Online:

Still have questions? Ask them using the question tool below. To learn more, please review the presentation and information boards.

Consultation has concluded

If you have questions about Guelph's Affordable Housing CIP ask us here. We will do our best to answer in 3-5 business days. 

  • Share Hello, this page mentions a property tax rebate. However, I do not see language in the draft CIP about the property tax rebate. Is this still being considered? Will in be discussed and voted on at the February 11 council meeting? Thank you! on Facebook Share Hello, this page mentions a property tax rebate. However, I do not see language in the draft CIP about the property tax rebate. Is this still being considered? Will in be discussed and voted on at the February 11 council meeting? Thank you! on Twitter Share Hello, this page mentions a property tax rebate. However, I do not see language in the draft CIP about the property tax rebate. Is this still being considered? Will in be discussed and voted on at the February 11 council meeting? Thank you! on Linkedin Email Hello, this page mentions a property tax rebate. However, I do not see language in the draft CIP about the property tax rebate. Is this still being considered? Will in be discussed and voted on at the February 11 council meeting? Thank you! link

    Hello, this page mentions a property tax rebate. However, I do not see language in the draft CIP about the property tax rebate. Is this still being considered? Will in be discussed and voted on at the February 11 council meeting? Thank you!

    mtrana asked about 1 month ago

    The property tax rebate is referring to the New Affordable Unit Grant. Eligible projects would receive an upfront rebate for ten years on annual city portion of municipal property taxes the property valued at $25,000 per unit. All three programs, including the New Affordable Unit Grant, will be up for discussion and final approval at the February 11 council meeting.

  • Share Hello, my name is Olivia and I am reaching out on behalf of my company Bluevale Capital. We are commercial real estate developers and we specialize in property conversions, with two office conversions into multi-family currently underway (one in Calgary which will be 128 units with 4 commercial units, and one in London Ontario which will be 23 units and will be the first office conversion completed conversion in London), in addition to a 118 unit hotel conversion which will be completed in Q1 of 2025. I just wanted to find out the specifics of the Vacant Unit Rehabilitation Grant. I see that the grant is $100,000 per unit to encourage new affordable housing stock in Guelph, and was curious if this meant the entire building needed to be affordable or if the property would just need to meet one of the tiers of CMHC's MLI Select Criteria? In addition, I didn't see if there was any cap to the total grant that could be awarded but was wondering if there was a cap. My final question was if this grant only applies to offices/vacant apartments/industrial properties or if it could also apply to any hotel currently in operation if it were to be purchased then converted into multi-family. Please let me know, thanks. on Facebook Share Hello, my name is Olivia and I am reaching out on behalf of my company Bluevale Capital. We are commercial real estate developers and we specialize in property conversions, with two office conversions into multi-family currently underway (one in Calgary which will be 128 units with 4 commercial units, and one in London Ontario which will be 23 units and will be the first office conversion completed conversion in London), in addition to a 118 unit hotel conversion which will be completed in Q1 of 2025. I just wanted to find out the specifics of the Vacant Unit Rehabilitation Grant. I see that the grant is $100,000 per unit to encourage new affordable housing stock in Guelph, and was curious if this meant the entire building needed to be affordable or if the property would just need to meet one of the tiers of CMHC's MLI Select Criteria? In addition, I didn't see if there was any cap to the total grant that could be awarded but was wondering if there was a cap. My final question was if this grant only applies to offices/vacant apartments/industrial properties or if it could also apply to any hotel currently in operation if it were to be purchased then converted into multi-family. Please let me know, thanks. on Twitter Share Hello, my name is Olivia and I am reaching out on behalf of my company Bluevale Capital. We are commercial real estate developers and we specialize in property conversions, with two office conversions into multi-family currently underway (one in Calgary which will be 128 units with 4 commercial units, and one in London Ontario which will be 23 units and will be the first office conversion completed conversion in London), in addition to a 118 unit hotel conversion which will be completed in Q1 of 2025. I just wanted to find out the specifics of the Vacant Unit Rehabilitation Grant. I see that the grant is $100,000 per unit to encourage new affordable housing stock in Guelph, and was curious if this meant the entire building needed to be affordable or if the property would just need to meet one of the tiers of CMHC's MLI Select Criteria? In addition, I didn't see if there was any cap to the total grant that could be awarded but was wondering if there was a cap. My final question was if this grant only applies to offices/vacant apartments/industrial properties or if it could also apply to any hotel currently in operation if it were to be purchased then converted into multi-family. Please let me know, thanks. on Linkedin Email Hello, my name is Olivia and I am reaching out on behalf of my company Bluevale Capital. We are commercial real estate developers and we specialize in property conversions, with two office conversions into multi-family currently underway (one in Calgary which will be 128 units with 4 commercial units, and one in London Ontario which will be 23 units and will be the first office conversion completed conversion in London), in addition to a 118 unit hotel conversion which will be completed in Q1 of 2025. I just wanted to find out the specifics of the Vacant Unit Rehabilitation Grant. I see that the grant is $100,000 per unit to encourage new affordable housing stock in Guelph, and was curious if this meant the entire building needed to be affordable or if the property would just need to meet one of the tiers of CMHC's MLI Select Criteria? In addition, I didn't see if there was any cap to the total grant that could be awarded but was wondering if there was a cap. My final question was if this grant only applies to offices/vacant apartments/industrial properties or if it could also apply to any hotel currently in operation if it were to be purchased then converted into multi-family. Please let me know, thanks. link

    Hello, my name is Olivia and I am reaching out on behalf of my company Bluevale Capital. We are commercial real estate developers and we specialize in property conversions, with two office conversions into multi-family currently underway (one in Calgary which will be 128 units with 4 commercial units, and one in London Ontario which will be 23 units and will be the first office conversion completed conversion in London), in addition to a 118 unit hotel conversion which will be completed in Q1 of 2025. I just wanted to find out the specifics of the Vacant Unit Rehabilitation Grant. I see that the grant is $100,000 per unit to encourage new affordable housing stock in Guelph, and was curious if this meant the entire building needed to be affordable or if the property would just need to meet one of the tiers of CMHC's MLI Select Criteria? In addition, I didn't see if there was any cap to the total grant that could be awarded but was wondering if there was a cap. My final question was if this grant only applies to offices/vacant apartments/industrial properties or if it could also apply to any hotel currently in operation if it were to be purchased then converted into multi-family. Please let me know, thanks.

    Olivia Topp asked 2 months ago

    Thanks for your questions Olivia. 

    The programs have been set up so they are able to be stacked with other government financial programs like CMHC, you would just need to ensure you are meeting the criteria for both in order to access both. 

    The Vacant Residential Unit and Vacant Space Conversion grant is proposed as a flat grant of $100,000 per unit so all of the other units in the building do not need to meet the affordability requirements to receive funding for the one that does. Applicants can apply for multiple units in the same building if they meet the program affordability requirements as an example, you could receive $300,000 for 3 affordable rental units. At this time there is no maximum number of units you can apply for but there is limited funding available, and it will be first come first serve. 

    For your final question, in order to avoid renovictions the spaces must be vacant and uninhabitable and the grant is used to create new residential units. If the hotel space is already vacant and up for sale, the approval for converting them to residential units is dependent on a number of factors that would require a review with City staff during the application process. 

    The programs will be returning to council on February 11, 2025 for final approval and open for application in early 2025.