Build Canada Homes
What Ontario community housing providers need to know
Build Canada Homes (BCH) is the federal government’s newest housing initiative designed to finance, build, and accelerate affordable and non-market housing across Canada. With a $13B investment, access to public lands, and a strong “Buy Canadian” focus, BCH marks a significant shift in how Canada delivers housing at scale.
ONPHA is working closely with federal and provincial partners to ensure this new initiative delivers real results for Ontario’s community housing providers and the communities they serve.
How to access federal supports
The Build Canada Homes Portal is officially open, creating a major opportunity for community housing providers across Ontario to access new federal supports.
Community housing organizations are encouraged to: think creatively, leverage opportunity, focus on impact, and put forward their strongest proposals, not just “tick the boxes.”
It was a clear call for bold, thoughtful submissions that reflect the real needs and strengths of our communities.
ONPHA is actively working to support members during this process. We are:
- identifying regional opportunities
- exploring ways to strengthen applications
- ensuring providers of all sizes are well positioned
- aligning Ontario’s collective efforts as programs evolve
About Build Canada Homes
BCH launched on September 14, 2025 with CEO Ana Bailão and Housing and Infrastructure Minister Gregor Robertson, and was highlighted by Prime Minister Carney as a central pillar of the federal housing strategy.
Its goals include:
- Doubling the pace of housing construction
- Expanding non-market and Indigenous housing
- Supporting modular and factory-built construction
- Strengthening Canadian supply chains and creating jobs
Immediate priorities:
- Fight homelessness through transitional and supportive housing
- Expand deeply affordable and community housing
- Partner with the private sector to support middle-income housing
- Strengthen Canada’s housing industry with innovative, sustainable construction
How it will work:
BCH will operate as a standalone federal agency with three core functions:
- Build Affordable Homes: Plan, manage, and deliver projects with government, non-profits, and industry partners.
- Finance Affordable Homes: Provide flexible, low-cost, multi-year financing to scale non-market and Indigenous housing.
- Catalyze Innovation: Support modular, prefabricated, mass-timber, and low-carbon construction methods.
What this means for housing providers:
- Access to federal lands: 88 sites (463 hectares) available with more anticipated
- Financing tools: Flexible capital for projects that typically face barriers
- Streamlined approvals: BCH aims to operate as a “one-stop shop”
- Support for innovation: Potential to reduce timelines by 50% and costs by 20%
- Buy Canadian: Prioritizes Canadian materials and supply chains. ONPHA members can access the ONPHA Enterprise Program for support with this
More information can be found in the BCH Investment Policy Framework.
How ONPHA is supporting its members
ONPHA is helping ensure BCH meets Ontario’s needs by:
- Providing clarity: Tracking all BCH policies, programs, and processes to help providers navigate the system
- Advocating for Ontario providers: Engaging with federal partners to ensure Ontario’s realities and challenges are understood
- Listening to our members: Your experiences and questions guide our advocacy and the information we seek from BCH
More supports and resources will be announced to membership soon as we continue to roll out our strategy to support community housing providers. If you have questions, please email policy@onpha.org.
A message for our sector at the 2025 ONPHA Conference
At the 2025 ONPHA Conference, BCH CEO Ana Bailão formally addressed our sector for the first time in conversation with ONPHA. These conversations highlighted our shared commitment to ensuring BCH works for Ontario’s diverse community housing providers.
Get the latest on this topic
ONPHA will continue to share updates on Build Canada Homes through our weekly e-Alerts, your source for timely, member-exclusive policy news. Not a member yet? Become one today.