It remains to be seen if the City of Delta will have better luck obtaining federal funding intended to help local government’s speed up increasing their housing supply.
The federal government, through Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), created the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF), focusing on accelerating development and approvals, introducing zoning reforms and incentivizing key housing types.
The first funding intake in August 2023 was for $4 billion across Canada.
In March 2024, Delta was notified that it was not successful in its application for any of that funding.
This July, the CMHC announced a second round (HAF2). That program consists of less than $400 million, available to approximately 300 local governments who were unsuccessful in their first application.
A Delta staff report notes the goals of the program remain the same.
Recently completing an interim housing needs assessment, prior to submission of an application, is “worth additional points on the application form and could improve Delta’s chances of receiving funding,” the report explains.
Sounding frustrated, Mayor George Harvie during council’s Sept. 9 discussion said, “Don’t hold your breath.”
According to the CHMC, “HAF2 is expected to result in permits being issued for 12,000 more housing units than would have occurred without the HAF, in addition to the 100,000 additional permitted units expected from the first round of HAF funding.”
A total of 87 B.C. communities applied in the first go-around and several received funding.
It was announced last December that the City of Burnaby, for example, would receive $43.4 million, while later it was announced the City of North Vancouver would receive $18.6 million.
However, Delta, which was one of the first 10 municipalities to have been given a target for new housing units by the provincial government, was informed its application had been rejected.
Noting the CMHC gave no insight on why Delta’s application for funding was turned down, Coun. Dylan Kruger at the time said it was disappointing, since the application for funding included tangible actions that were aligned with actions the federal government suggested cities need to take.
Those actions included updating plans and bylaws to allow for additional density, removing regulatory restrictions and streamlining processes, pre-zoning lands permitting accessory dwelling units, reducing parking requirements, as well as creating incentives for affordable housing.
