Guide to Developing Affordable Housing

This Case Study summarizes the Alberta Rural Development Network’s comprehensive Step-by-Step Guide to Developing Affordable Housing.

In communities across Canada, there is a clear and growing need for rental housing that is both affordable and sustainable. But non-profit groups, community organizations and other smaller housing providers often lack practical knowledge on how to navigate the complex maze of:

• consultants
• regulations
• approvals
• funders
• contractors

The guide helps fill this gap. It provides a basic understanding of the processes and legal and regulatory frameworks that surround:

• land development
• affordable housing
• sustainable development

The guide is organized around 4 key steps in affordable housing development:

• Initiating the project — assessing your organization’s capacity, exploring your ideas, evaluating the feasibility of your project and securing financing.
• Planning — developing a plan and schedule for the project, and putting together your team of architects, engineers, consultants and other specialists.
• Execution — building your housing project and seeing your vision take shape.
• Closure — transitioning from development to operating, maintaining and managing a completed affordable housing project.

It features 10 key steps in developing an affordable housing project. The guide also includes a worksheet, booklet and templates.

Author:

CMHC

Document Type:

PDF

Date Published:

November 17, 2021