Today Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland released her inaugural budget and the first federal budget in more than two years.

Habitat for Humanity Canada had called for increased investment in the National Housing Strategy and is pleased to see the Government move forward $750 million in funding for the National Housing Co-Investment Fund and add $1.5 billion to its Rapid Housing Initiative, with at least 25% going to women-focused housing. These, combined with investments in affordable housing innovation, a homelessness strategy, rental and transitional housing, will provide badly needed housing and smooth the path to affordable homeownership for more families across Canada.

We are concerned that the government did not announce a specific urban Indigenous Housing program but note the Government’s suggestion in post-budget briefings that broader funding announced for affordable housing and for Indigenous infrastructure are potential funding sources for such a program. We look forward to future announcements in this regard.

As a partner to government in creating affordable housing for families living with low income across Canada, Habitat for Humanity looks forward to further details of these programs and to continuing, productive conversations with Families, Children and Social Development Minister Ahmed Hussen, Parliamentary Secretary Adam Vaughan, CMHC, parliamentarians and policy makers focused on the National Housing Strategy and affordable housing across Canada.

Habitat Canada had also called on the Government to take action to sustain Canada’s charitable sector. We welcome its commitment to review regulation and tools for charities, which could “increase support for the charitable sector and those that rely on its services by between $1 billion and $2 billion annually” and to explore the potential for a new Canadian social bond to allow Canadians to invest in charities’ critical offerings.

If you would like to speak to Julia Deans, President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada, about the government’s 2021 Budget and affordable housing investments, please reach out to Laura Arlabosse-Stewart at larlabossestewart@habitat.ca