Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan

Project complete  

The Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan was approved by Council on February 11, 2025. To learn more about the program application process, the Affordable Housing CIP document and information about the program visit the Affordable Housing CIP page on Guelph.ca.  

About the project 

Guelph’s Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan (CIP) provides 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 identified in the State of Housing Report (2023) will guided the CIP objectives. 

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 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. 

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 

This project has closed and is no longer open for comment. The Affordable Housing CIP was approved at Council February 11, 2025.  

Since June 2024, we have come together in person and online to share information about the project. Thank you for your input.  

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

Please note: This project began in an older version of our website. Some of the tools and information may appear different than originally designed.

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