Social/Affordable Housing Projects in Ottawa-Gatineau

[rocketphish]

Here's the actual press release:

https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/pr...-international-leadership-841517658.html

[rocketphish]

Ontario government, City of Ottawa partner with Habitat for Humanity on new modular homes

By Ted Raymond, CTV News
Published: December 08, 2025 at 1:27PM EST



The City of Ottawa and the Ontario government are contributing nearly $10 million toward a Habitat for Humanity project to build 33 modular, affordable townhomes in Nepean.

The province said Monday the homes will be built at 40 Beechcliffe Street, near the intersection of Woodroffe Avenue and Knoxdale Road. The site was identified as part of the Ottawa-Ontario Deal that was signed in March 2024.

“Home prices at 40 Beechcliffe Street will be set to reflect prices home buyers can afford. Designed for families, these attainable homes will include 3 to 4 bedrooms. To further remove barriers to ownership, the homes will require no down payment and mortgage payments will be geared to household income,” a news release from the province said.

The City of Ottawa is providing the land and spending $6 million on the project, while the Ontario government is contributing $3.4 million. Caivan is the development sponsor and builder.

“At a time of economic uncertainty, our government is stepping up by supporting innovative housing projects like Beechcliffe Homes to leave no stone unturned in helping people unlock the quintessential dream of owning a home in Ontario while keeping workers on the job,” said Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Rob Flack, in a news release.

Mayor Mark Sutcliffe says the city’s $6 million contribution is a “clear sign of our commitment to build more homes and build them faster.”

“The City of Ottawa is saying yes to more housing and more affordable housing,” he said.

According to Habitat for Humanity, in order to be eligible for one of the homes, buyers must fulfill the following criteria:

• A total household income sufficient to cover the cost of Habitat homeownership
• Canadian citizen or a permanent resident
• Must be a first-time homebuyer and current renter
• At least one adult in a household with a minimum of two years of full-time employment history in Canada
• No recent bankruptcies. Habitat for Humanity requires three years from a bankruptcy or consumer proposal discharge
• Living somewhere that does not meet the family’s needs
• Able and willing to contribute 500 volunteer hours on the build site or with other Habitat projects and community activities (350 for single-parent families)

Each home will be 1,648 sq. ft. with a small backyard, finished rec room, driveway, and one-car garage. They will include three bedrooms with the option to expand to four depending on family size.

“Through investments like this in Habitat’s affordable homeownership model and by embracing factory-built construction, we’re demonstrating that there are scalable, community-driven solutions to the housing crisis,” said Habitat for Humanity Greater Ottawa CEO Sara Cooper. “Together, we are building more than homes, we are building equity, resilience, and a stronger Ottawa.”

The site is being prepared for construction, with sales set to begin early in the new year, and occupancy expected as early as February 2027.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/on...bitat-for-humanity-on-new-modular-homes/

[eltodesukane]

Will they leave room for the future LRT to Barrhaven?
Knoxdale station >>

[Williamoforange]

My guess is these houses will just butt up against the LRT station.... But by god is this a waste of prime land and anyone who wins one will be winning the lottery. This should be more dense than this, stacked town homes, or greater

https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/public-en...ion-6273cee4-65bc-4f64-8c33-161468f44274

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by Williamoforange

My guess is these houses will just butt up against the LRT station.... But by god is this a waste of prime land and anyone who wins one will be winning the lottery. This should be more dense than this, stacked town homes, or greater

https://ottawa.ca/en/city-hall/public-en...ion-6273cee4-65bc-4f64-8c33-161468f44274

I agree with you on this one.

[zzptichka]

What the hell is this? How is this allowed to be built right next to the future LRT station in 2025, let alone subsidized by the public?
Does it have to be approved by the council?

[rocketphish]

City floats plan to speed up construction of affordable housing
Pilot project would see city secure loans for three OCHC projects

Cameron Mahler · CBC News
Posted: Feb 04, 2026 4:00 AM EST | Last Updated: 5 hours ago

City of Ottawa staff want council to approve a new financing framework they say could speed up the construction of affordable housing.

According to a staff report, rising construction costs and higher interest rates over the past five years have created deficits of roughly 30 to 40 per cent for Ottawa Community Housing Corporation (OCHC) projects, despite contributions from federal and provincial housing funding programs.

To address these shortfalls, the city proposed a new "Affordable Housing Debenture Framework" at Tuesday’s Finance and Corporate Services Committee.

Using the OCHC projects as pilot program under the framework, the city treasury would acquire short-term loans using its high credit rating. The city would then put the funds toward the construction of three OCHC projects offering about 550 new affordable housing units.

“Shovels are ready to go,” said Cyril Rogers, the city's chief financial officer. “This funding will now be a direct injection, that build will now take place.”

City officials say the new framework would allow the housing corporation's projects, and others, to move forward sooner by reducing the need for large upfront funding. Instead, the city would spread those costs over time through promissory notes.

Promissory notes are short-term agreements where the city borrows money and agrees to repay it with interest, typically within one to three months.

Staff are also recommending the city set aside up to $2 million a year from its housing reserve, for up to 10 years, to temporarily cover debt until the OCHC can repay it themselves through rent revenue.

If approved, the new framework would be added to the growing list of debt-financed projects the city has approved in recent months.

Ottawa has approved the purchase of an east-end landfill ($95 million) on debt and is pursuing the Lansdowne 2.0 project ($483 million) mostly through debt — but hopes to offset those costs through commercial revenue, property taxes, ticket surcharges and other revenue streams.

The framework is also designed to work alongside potential funding from government housing initiatives, including an anticipated $32 million from the Build Canada Homes fund.

Tuesday's staff recommendations were passed by the committee and will be presented to city council for final approval on Feb. 11.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/co...me-affordable-housing-projects-9.7072692

[J.OT13]

Près de 400 nouveaux logements abordables et sociaux arrivent en Outaouais
Par Logir, LeDroit
7 février 2026 à 00h57

Une excellente nouvelle pour les ménages à la recherche d’un logement abordable en Outaouais!

En collaboration avec Logir, le bras immobilier de l’Office d’habitation de l’Outaouais, près de 400 nouveaux logements sont disponibles à la location. Ces nouveaux projets immobiliers répondent à un besoin criant dans la région et représentent une occasion unique d’accéder à un milieu de vie de qualité, moderne et durable.

Au total, 395 logements, dont 124 logements abordables et 271 logements subventionnés, verront le jour dès début 2026 dans le cadre de trois projets immobiliers neufs :

Projet Champlain

• Situé au 344, rue Champlain
• 199 logements de 1 et 2 chambres, dont 139 subventionnés et 60 abordables
• 13 étages

Projet Habiter chez soi

• Situé au 295, rue Saint-René Est
• 134 logements de 1, 2 et 3 chambres, dont 99 subventionnés et 35 abordables
• 8 étages

Projet Wright

• Situé au 35, rue Wright
• 62 logements de 1 et 2 chambres, dont 33 subventionnés et 29 abordables
• 6 étages

Chacun de ces projets propose un cadre de vie accueillant et sécuritaire, pensé pour favoriser la stabilité résidentielle et le bien-être des occupants. Conçus pour répondre aux besoins variés des ménages, ces immeubles offrent des matériaux de qualité, une excellente insonorisation et des aménagements favorisant le confort au quotidien. Leur emplacement stratégique, à proximité des services essentiels, facilite la vie des futurs locataires.

Un avantage non négligeable vient s’ajouter à cette offre : les services essentiels, dont le chauffage et l’électricité, sont inclus dans le loyer, simplifiant ainsi la gestion du budget mensuel et offrant une tranquillité d’esprit appréciable. De plus, pour les personnes ayant un véhicule, des cases de stationnement intérieur sont disponibles sur réservation, moyennant un tarif mensuel.

Les logements subventionnés sont destinés aux ménages déjà inscrits sur la liste d’attente de l’Office d’habitation de l’Outaouais. Toutefois, bonne nouvelle : il est encore tout à fait possible de s’inscrire dès maintenant pour l’un des logements abordables. Les places sont limitées et la demande est forte — mieux vaut agir rapidement!

https://www.ledroit.com/la-vitrine/2026/...en-outaouais-GD3F6ZIJARDBHCV46E3G3SC27E/

[Richard Eade]

According to Leiper's weekly newsletter, the City's Finance Committee will be looking into purchasing the old Sonder's Hotel, at 377 O'Connor, for $45M; to be used for transitional housing.

[phil235]

Obviously this provides much-needed shelter space, and the opportunity to purchase a vacant building in that condition is a big plus. That said, I really question the ongoing concentration of these types of facilities in Centretown. There's got to be a concerted effort to spread shelters throughout the city. It's really unfortunate that the central part of the city is forced to bear the lion's share of the burden while being neglected on so many other fronts.

It seems to me that it would make sense to tie shelter place to other resources. Something along the lines that if Centretown/Lowertown has x number of shelter places, it should receive a proportionate boost in funding for transit, health services, recreation etc.

[rocketphish]

City poised to buy vacant downtown hotel to house families
Federal funding will cover most of $45M purchase price, city staff say

Nathan Fung · CBC News
Posted: Feb 23, 2026 5:24 PM EST | Last Updated: 1 hour ago

The City of Ottawa is poised to purchase a former downtown hotel for use as transitional housing for families experiencing homelessness.

In a report prepared for the city's finance and corporate services committee on March 3, city staff recommend buying 377 O'Connor St., located on the southeast corner of O’Connor and Gladstone Avenue, to help relieve the strain on the family shelter system.

The recently renovated building was not publicly listed for sale. It has been both a hotel and an extended-stay apartment building, but has been vacant since last year when hospitality chain Sonder declared bankruptcy.

The building has 128 units ranging from studios to one-, two- and three-bedroom suites.

Staff say the purchase would leverage funding from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), which will cover up to 95 per cent of the $45-million purchase if it's approved before April 1.

"This enables the city to secure a long-term asset at no direct cost to the municipal tax base while simultaneously reducing dependence on external and higher cost accommodation options, such as hotels," the staff report said.

<more>

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/ci...own-hotel-transitional-housing-9.7102716

[J.OT13]

Originally Posted by phil235

Obviously this provides much-needed shelter space, and the opportunity to purchase a vacant building in that condition is a big plus. That said, I really question the ongoing concentration of these types of facilities in Centretown. There's got to be a concerted effort to spread shelters throughout the city. It's really unfortunate that the central part of the city is forced to bear the lion's share of the burden while being neglected on so many other fronts.

It seems to me that it would make sense to tie shelter place to other resources. Something along the lines that if Centretown/Lowertown has x number of shelter places, it should receive a proportionate boost in funding for transit, health services, recreation etc.

Agreed. It's good, but I wish the City would "spread the love". Plante had a good analogy the other day; everyone would be pissed if the ByWard Market had all the community centres, so why does Downtown have nearly all the shelters/transitional housing?

[J.OT13]

Cross-post, Feds trying to find a building to lease land for affordable housing.

Originally Posted by Ottawacurious

With CMHC leasing land in the area, has the access to the site progressed at all with the NCC?

https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/professional...ng-programs/federal-lands/2169-riverside

290+ Unitshttps://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/professional...-2v4_aem_mWIC8zC6xd6jSAY_DD8Aqg&ap=a1-p3


40+ unitshttps://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/professional...nding-programs/federal-lands/canal-woods

[rocketphish]

City of Ottawa finance committee OK's deal with feds to build 3,000 homes
The city's end of the deal includes reducing or waiving development charges, permit fees, cash in lieu of parkland and property taxes.

By Joanne Laucius, Ottawa Citizen
Published Apr 11, 2026 | Last updated 6 hours ago | 5 minute read

The City of Ottawa’s finance committee has approved an agreement to fast-track building up to 3,000 affordable and mixed-income homes in a partnership with the federal government.

Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mayor Mark Sutcliffe announced the partnership in December. The terms have now been agreed to by both the city and Build Canada Homes (BCH), a new federal agency launched last September.

The city’s end of the deal includes reducing or waiving development charges, permit fees, cash in lieu of parkland and property taxes. The agreement will be before city council on April 22 for approval.

Under the agreement, the city is receiving funding for 1,000 new affordable or supportive units in Ottawa coming directly from the city’s priority list, an investment of $150 million over the next two years, Sutcliffe said.

BCH will invest to build 2,000 new units on federal land, which will remain under federal ownership. BCH has identified 1495 Heron Rd. and Wateridge Village in the east end near the Montfort Hospital as the initial sites for development under the partnership.

Sutcliffe called it a “historic deal.” As many as 1,800 will be affordable and supportive units, and that includes 200 that will be deeply affordable, he said.

“These will be truly mixed-income communities with the emphasis being on providing affordable and supportive housing. Well over half of these units will be lower, or significantly lower, than what the market can typically provide,” Sutcliffe said.

The city is eliminating development charges on all the units being built by the federal government, but that will be offset by the property taxes generated on the market units they are building, Sutcliffe said. The total commitment from the city is between $200 million and $245 million in waived taxes, fees and other charges.

BCH will be prioritizing the development of three- and four-bedroom family-size units, aiming to exceed the minimum requirements of the zoning bylaw, said Will McDonald, director of the city’s strategic projects office. The partnership will also include requirements to generate long-term, predictable demand for Canadian factory-built housing, Canadian lumber and materials.

The city would be waiving property taxes for affordable units for 75 years to help keep the operating costs of these units low, McDonald said. This equates to $2,900 a unit per year for the 75-year period, for a total of $135 million to $185 million.

“These sites are at locations that have existing infrastructure to support the developments and are large enough to incorporate parks and other amenities,” McDonald said. “So, even though cash in lieu of parkland has been waived as part of this partnership, it would not have been required for these sites.”

The cost to create sustainable affordable housing requires addressing both the cost to build, such as land construction financing and soft costs and the cost to operate the project, he said. BCH will be providing the land financing and capital to construct the homes and will ensure their affordability for 99 years.

BCH and the city are to hold joint public consultations to ensure the community understands what is being proposed for the sites and can provide input before planning decisions are made and site plans are finalized.

The city is not putting any cash into the agreement, Sutcliffe said.

“We are simply forgoing future revenue. All of it is revenue that we would not collect if these homes were not being built, and a huge portion is going to reducing the cost of affordable and supportive homes so the residents of those homes will pay less,” he said.

On paper, the value of the agreement is about $400 million. “However, land, labor, material and financing, the actual value of what the federal government is contributing is more than $1 billion,” Sutcliffe said.

The goal is to start construction on the 3,000 homes within the next 12 months and to have them ready for occupancy in about three years, said Marcia Wallace, the city’s general manager of planning, development and building services.

With any new development project, there are always site-specific elements, she said.

“That’s why we’re eager for council to make a decision so we can get busy on the cross-department, cross-agency kind of work we’ll need to happen to get something built on each of these sites.”

There were numerous questions about how the deal would play out, ranging from the possibility of cost escalations, differences in how Ottawa and BCH calculate affordability and the accelerated public consultation process.

Toon Dreessen, president of Architects DCA in Ottawa, wanted to know more about the sustainability of the homes being constructed.

“Eighty per cent of the cost of a building happens after it’s constructed, and there is nothing in the BCH proposal that speaks to things like a decarbonized building zero operational carbon, a higher durability standard that provides increased value and decreased operating costs,” he said.

Bay ward Coun. Theresa Kavanagh expressed concern about the public consultation process.

“There’s no information at this point to the public about these projects,” she said.

The city will still engage the community in the way it would through the normal planning process, Wallace replied.

“It will look different because it will be truncated, it will be shorter, it will be more condensed, because the objective is to get something moving quickly,” she said. “But I see this as an opportunity.”

Speaking to reporters after the finance committee meeting, Sutcliffe said getting the agreement done was the result of tough negotiating with BCH.

“If this is passed by council, we’re going to have $150 million coming to the city to invest in affordable and supportive housing projects that otherwise would have to wait a lot longer to get built,” he said. “I think it’s a great deal for the city.”

https://ottawacitizen.com/news/ottawa-deal-feds-3000-homes

[J.OT13]

Prime Minister announces 8 housing projects in Ottawa through Build Canada Homes partnership​
Ted Raymond, CTV
April 23, 2026



Project sites​
According to the federal government, the eight sites are:

• 200-201 Beausoleil Drive: 159 units (non-profit), with estimated construction starting in fall 2026.
• Geyser Place (formerly 3380 Jockvale Road): 118 units (non-profit), with estimated construction starting in fall 2026.
• 1770 Heatherington Road (Phase 1): 90 units (non-profit), with estimated construction starting in spring 2027.
• 58 Capilano Drive: 20 units (non-profit), with estimated construction starting in summer 2026.
• 240 Presland Road: 64 units (non-profit), with estimated construction starting in summer 2026.
• The 100 block of Hickory Street: 110 units (non-profit), with estimated construction starting in early 2027.
• 2475 Regina Street (Parkway House): 266 units (private and non-profit), with estimated construction starting in fall 2026.
• 384 Arlington Avenue (Korean Church): 296 units (private and non-profit), with estimated construction starting in fall 2026.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/article/pr...hem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=bluesky

[J.OT13]

I was able to find all these projects except for Hickory and Heatherington. Those found have been bumped and updated to "approved".

Edit, Heatherington is the address of the Boys & Girls Club built on City land built 5 years go.

[MarkR]

You may have heard of this project, modelled on PAL buildings in other cities. Affordable spaces for local senior arts workers:

https://onpha.on.ca/och-and-pal-ottawa-p...e-homes-for-ottawas-senior-arts-workers/

PAL had to team up with Ottawa Community Housing to make this thing happen, and the new buildings on Rochester opposite the Adult High School were to be used. But as often happens once the City gets involved, the whole thing got messed up and PAL had to pull out.

From their website:

'"PAL Ottawa will explore new private development collaborations in 2026 to fulfill its mission of providing affordable housing for local senior artists and arts workers. This marks a full break from the discussions between PAL Ottawa and Ottawa Community Housing Corporation (OCHC) for occupancy in one of the MOSAÏQ II buildings.

In 2021, PAL Ottawa signed an Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with OCHC to create a range of affordable apartments and a much-needed creative space for senior arts workers, itself representing a $500k investment by PAL Ottawa, based on an action item in the City of Ottawa’s Culture Plan.

With the rising homelessness crisis in the city, the January 22 proposal by the City of Ottawa Housing Services put plans for PAL Place in an untenable financial position, and one that conflicted with its mandate and the spirit of the MOU. Believing that community groups can also assist in the housing crisis, PAL Ottawa is breaking from OCHC and is determined to seek a new housing plan to defend the needs and interests of senior arts workers.

“The Board and PAL Ottawa volunteers have worked diligently for over 7 years to bring this project to fruition,” says Peter Haworth, Chair of PAL Ottawa. “This recent development is a significant blow, particularly given the anticipated opening of MOSAÏQ II this September. After careful consideration, the Board has concluded that we cannot fulfill our mission of creating a supportive community for senior arts workers within the current MOSAÏQ II framework. While it is a shame to step back after all the hard work and the hopes we had put into the original building, we have no doubt that this is the right choice for our 200+ applicants on our waiting list. This new step has lit a fire under us and work on a new path is underway. We look forward to announcing collaborations towards a new home for PAL Ottawa.”'

https://palottawa.org/blog/news-events/P...ath%20to%20Affordable%20Artist%20Housing

[J.OT13]

De nouveaux logements sociaux pour des familles à risque d’itinérance
Par Lise Denis, Le Droit
19 mai 2026 à 15h51


Le projet immobilier situé au 240, rue Magnus Est, d’une valeur de 22,2 millions de dollars, a été construit en 13 mois.

Près d’une cinquantaine de logements sociaux ont été inaugurés mardi à Gatineau. Fruit d’une collaboration entre les trois paliers de gouvernement, ils accueilleront des familles en situation d’itinérance ou à risque de le devenir.

Le projet immobilier situé au 240, rue Magnus Est, d’une valeur de 22,2 millions de dollars, a été mené par l’organisme Mon chez nous et soutenu financièrement par les gouvernements du Québec et du Canada.

La Ville de Gatineau a investi plus de 4,5 millions de dollars et fait don du terrain, une partie du stationnement de l’ancien aréna Baribeau.

Les 47 unités de logements sociaux à deux ou trois chambres seront destinées à des familles en situation d’itinérance ou à risque de le devenir. Celles-ci s’installeront sur les lieux à partir du 1er juin.

Cette aide additionnelle est assumée à 90 % par la SHQ et à 10 % par la Ville de Gatineau.

Besoins «pressants»

«Clairement, ça répond à des besoins très très pressants dans la communauté», a déclaré la mairesse de Gatineau, Maude Marquis-Bissonnette. «Ça change tout dans la vie d’une famille d’avoir un toit, de ne pas se soucier de la fin du mois», a-t-elle ajouté.

«Il va y avoir plein d’enfants, il y a un parc au coin de la rue, des commerces, une école, on est à proximité du Rapibus, donc c’est vraiment un environnement [...] qui offre de la sécurité, puis de la dignité.»

«Le projet Magnus démontre ce que nous pouvons accomplir lorsque les gouvernements et les partenaires communautaires unissent leurs efforts», a souligné le député fédéral de Gatineau, Steven MacKinnon.

https://www.ledroit.com/actualites/actua...-ditinerance-43B2WR4HYBB6BDV3UETF5QRJT4/

[J.OT13]

New homes: Partnerships paving way for affordable housing to be built
Partnership means Ottawa will see up to 3,000 new mixed-income affordable homes

By Linda White • Ottawa Citizen
Published Jun 05, 2026

Under a new federal-municipal housing partnership, the City of Ottawa will see up to 3,000 new mixed-income affordable homes.

Delivering on that commitment, Prime Minister Mark Carney recently announced that Build Canada Homes – a federal agency that launched in September 2025 to help grow the supply of mixed-income housing in Canada – has approved eight affordable housing projects (see sidebar) that will deliver more than 1,100 new rental homes in Ottawa.

“This partnership shows how we can move faster when governments work together,” says Gregor Robertson, minister of housing and infrastructure and minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada. “By unlocking public land and backing shovel-ready projects, we’re helping deliver thousands of homes in Ottawa – with affordability and long-term community needs front and centre.”

Federal lands

The partnership includes up to $400 million in federal and municipal contributions. Build Canada Homes will contribute surplus federal lands to develop 2,000 homes, which will include a mix of market, affordable and deeply affordable homes. As part of the agreement, the city will receive $150 million of funding to support shovel-ready projects on the City’s Affordable Housing Pipeline.

The city’s contribution consists of waiving fees and charges to make building less expensive, and a tailored approval and permitting process to make the overall process faster. The City’s contribution also includes property tax exemptions for the affordable homes built on surplus federal lands. Its contribution is valued at $200 to $245 million.

The eight projects approved by Build Canada Homes are led by a range of partners, including non-profit housing providers and community organizations. Nesting Ground, a Canadian non-profit real estate developer that delivers sustainable, mixed-income affordable housing at scale through partnerships with governments, community housing providers and private capital, is leading the Parkway House and Korean Church projects.

Led by Graeme Hussey, a nationally recognized affordable housing expert, Nesting Ground combines non-profit sector relationships with proven, institutional-grade development expertise through its partnership with Windmill Developments.

==SNIP==

https://ottawacitizen.com/life/new-homes-partnerships-paving-way-for-affordable-housing-to-be-built