Question Period Note: Accessible housing

What is the Government doing to help Canadians have access to accessible housing regardless of their physical or other abilities?

• Our housing programs prioritize projects that include accessibility features and are located close to transit, services, and supports, and employment opportunities.

• For instance, projects funded under the National Housing Co Investment Fund and the Rental Construction Financing Initiative must have either universal or barrier-free designs or include common areas that meet or exceed local accessibility requirements.

• Since 2018, we contributed to the creating, maintaining or repairing of more than 36,000 units of accessible housing in Canada. We are working to make a place to call home more accessible, so it makes a difference in so many lives for the people who need it. As of June 30, 2023, we have repaired over 1,400 and built over 4,300 accessible units.

Affordable Housing Innovation Fund
* Minimum 10% of units must be accessible.
* Priority given to projects within 500 to 1,000 meters of transit or services.

Rental Construction Financing Initiative
* Minimum 10% of units and all common areas must meet or exceed local accessibility requirements.
* Higher priority given to projects with access to public transit.

National Housing Co-investment Fund
* Minimum 20% of units must meet or exceed accessibility standards, and all projects must also have a barrier-free or universal design.
* Higher priority given to projects in close proximity to transit.

Rapid Housing Initiative
* Modular projects in the 15 major cities must provide at least 5% more accessible units than set out by their local accessibility requirements. Outside the major cities, higher priority given to projects exceeding their local accessibility requirements.

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