Rapid Housing Initiative – North Central Family Centre

How much funding is Regina getting for the project?
CMHC has provided the City more than $6.6 million under the Rapid Housing Initiative (RHI) 3 Cities Stream.

What are the funding requirements under RHI Stream 3?

• Funding is for capital costs and cannot be used to support operational expenses
• Eligible projects include new construction, non-residential conversion and rehabilitation of housing units that are in disrepair and/or abandoned and in both cases are uninhabitable or have been lost from the housing stock
• Projects must meet affordability, energy efficiency and accessibility criteria
• Units must be delivered within 18-months of CMHC project approval
• Units must be maintained as affordable for 20 years
• Units must be dedicated to people and populations who are vulnerable and targeted under the National Housing Strategy
• 25% of units will be targeted to women or women and their children
• The City is encouraged to work with Indigenous-led organizations to target 15% of funding for urban Indigenous Peoples 

What is the City’s Role in the new RHI project?
The City is best positioned to maintain its current role of supporting the creation of affordable housing units in partnership with local non-profit organizations. Regina is home to many experienced non-profit organizations that have well-established relationships with the communities they serve and who understand local housing needs.

The City’s role for the RHI project will include:

• Facilitating the provision of investment to our selected non-profit organization
• Supporting them to build and operate the housing
• Ensuring the project comply with development requirements (land use, zoning, building code) similar to all development projects within the City
• Information sharing with the public and consultation where appropriate (i.e., rezoning or discretionary use applications)
• On-going monitoring and reporting to CMHC over the 20-year agreement timeline

What is the housing need in Regina?
Based on 2021 census data, 23% of renter households in Regina are in core housing need. A household is considered to be in core housing need if it falls below one or more of the adequacy, suitability or affordability standards and would have to spend 30% or more of its before-tax income to access housing that meets all three standards.