Federal Community Housing Initiative

RENTAL ASSISTANCE ELIGIBLITY:

To be an eligible FCHI-2 Housing Provider, you must meet the following criteria:

1. Be a non-profit housing provider or a housing co-operative whose federal operating agreement with CMHC has ended or will end March 31, 2028.
2. Be a provider whose operating agreement with CMHC is under one of the following social housing programs:
   
   • Section 95 (Pre-86) non-profit, co-operative, urban native
   • Section 95 (Post-85) non-profit, co-operative, urban native
   • Section 95 (Post-85) Index-Linked-Mortgage (ILM) co-operatives
   • Section 27, 61 non-profit and co-operatives
   • Section 26 non-profit or Entrepreneurs
   • Section 95 Rent Supplement (units currently leased from a private property owner and rented to those in need).

An exception exists for ILM co-operatives where, they are eligible for FCHI-2 as soon as the first mortgage has been repaid and federal assistance (for the operating expenses) has ceased to be paid.

Note that housing providers who meet the general rules and have a rent supplement agreement, or who have another subsidy agreement with their province or municipality can submit a request only for units not covered by those other agreements. Once these agreements have expired, the units may be eligible for FCHI-2, subject to need and available funds at that time.

Breach of a previous operating agreement(s) could affect eligibility for FCHI-2. In this case, CMHC will contact the housing providers to discuss their specific case.

In cases where a housing provider is eligible for FCHI-2, but whose agreement ended before March 31, 2020, CMHC may request additional documents to confirm that the housing provider’s status is active and that it complies with its legal obligations (e.g. financial statements, proof of payment of property taxes, etc.)

Throughout the program, CMHC will identify eligible non-profit housing providers and housing co‑operatives and send them an enrolment form at least six months before the end of their agreement in effect with CMHC, when possible.

TRANSITIONAL FUNDING ELIGIBLITY:

Transitional funding is reserved for housing providers experiencing challenges transitioning to the new program model. This funding will be reserved for the most vulnerable groups, such as deep subsidy or urban Indigenous projects. It will be granted for 24 months from the effective date of the FCHI-2 agreement.

Transitional funding is a complement to the rental assistance component. Eligible groups will receive funding from both streams simultaneously. The analysis process for transitional funding is completed in conjunction with CMHC’s review of the housing provider’s enrolment for the rental assistance of FCHI-2. First, the amount of rental assistance is calculated. Note that housing charges are of particular importance to this calculation. They should be established at a level that will support the viability of the project. CMHC will accept rents that are reasonably in line with market rents and that support the economic sustainability of the housing provider.

Following the rental assistance calculation, if it is determined that there are additional financial needs, then an additional amount through the transitional funding could be offered. Once the transitional funding ends, the housing provider will continue to receive rental assistance until the end of the FCHI-2 agreement.

RENTAL ASSISTANCE ENROLMENT :

CMHC will identify and contact potentially eligible housing providers with an enrolment package at least six months prior to the expiry of their federally administered operating agreement, when possible.

Eligible providers will need to confirm their intent to participate in the FCHI-2 by the deadline communicated in the enrolment package. The Intent to Opt-in or Opt-out of Rental Assistance Form and FCHI-2 Enrolment Annex, which are included in the enrolment package, should be completed and sent in to CMHC.

TRANSITIONAL FUNDING ENROLMENT

Transitional funding is reserved for the most priority groups, such as deep subsidy or urban Indigenous projects. Housing providers that apply for the rental assistance stream of FCHI-2 are automatically considered for the transitional funding stream. If CMHC identifies your group or project as being in need of this funding after an initial needs assessment, you will be contacted to provide more information after the assessment of your rental assistance application and before the expiration of your previous federal operating agreement with CMHC.

AFTER ENROLMENT

ASSESSMENT

CMHC determines the amount of funding a housing provider receives following a needs and prioritization assessment based on information provided in the Annex. If you are eligible for transitional funding, you will receive a request to provide any additional information required to complete your enrolment for both streams of the FCHI2 program.

AGREEMENT

Applicants will receive assessment results in writing by way of letter. Funding approvals are provided via the FCHI-2 agreement.

DECISION LETTER

The decision letter will accompany the FCHI-2 agreement and communicate some of the terms and conditions of the funding offer.