Strengthening Alberta’s housing system

Stronger Foundations is Alberta’s 10-year strategy which launched in 2021 to improve and expand affordable housing, while building a sustainable system that provides flexible, fair and inclusive housing options well into the future. It outlines the thoughtful changes needed to provide safe, stable, affordable housing for an additional 25,000 households to increase the total served to 82,000 – an increase of more than 40%.

As of February 2024, more than 110,000 low-income Albertans live in affordable housing and about 18,500 households are on a waitlist. Action is required now to address the growing demands for safe, affordable housing.

The strategy was informed by recommendations provided by the Affordable Housing Review Panel and provides a 10-year roadmap outlining key actions needed to transform the current housing system. These actions include increasing the number of affordable housing units, improving access to housing for Albertans in need, creating innovative and collaborative partnerships with governments, organizations and communities, and enabling more non-government investment.

View progress to date

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Vision

Albertans have access to safe, affordable housing that meets their needs and promotes quality of life.

The housing system that delivers innovative and sustainable affordable housing options to Albertans in need through partnerships with other orders of government, non-profit and private housing providers, and communities.

The housing system serves Albertans now and into the future.

Key goals

Stronger Foundations identifies 5 key themes to be achieved over the next 10 years. The strategy’s actions under these themes will make the housing system more accessible, affordable and sustainable.

  • Grade 1
    Support Albertans most in need

    Continue to protect the most vulnerable and ensure affordable housing eligibility is fair, clear and equitable.

  • Grade 2
    Improve access

    Make it simpler for Albertans to access affordable housing supports, and easier for housing providers to deliver those supports.

  • Grade 3
    Increase planning and governance

    Enable more collaboration and local decision-making with partners, and provide more flexibility and capacity to meet local housing needs.

  • Grade 4
    Enhance sustainability and efficiency

    Make the affordable housing system more sustainable by enabling innovative operating approaches, such as expanding mixed-income developments.

  • Grade 5
    Enable growth and investment

    Use innovative partnerships with the private and non-profit sector and communities to help grow the supply of affordable housing.

Photo of a keychain with a house

Affordable Housing Partnership Program

Public, non-profit, and private-sector housing providers can apply for funding for innovative and sustainable affordable housing projects.

Learn more

Progress to date

2024

  • Launched the Seniors Lodge Review Panel in January and will have more to share on the final report and recommendations soon.
  • Announced the second round of successful Affordable Housing Partnership Program projects announced with $66 million supporting 8 projects.
  • Announced Budget 2024 with $840 million in capital funding and $86.6 million in operating funding to support the continued implementation of Stronger Foundations. 

2023

  • Attended the groundbreakings and grand openings of several projects throughout the year from our Affordable Housing Partnership Program and Indigenous Housing Capital Program. 
  • Announced key additional investments in Capital Maintenance and Renewal to keep existing units in good condition for future tenants. 
  • Announced first round of successful Affordable Housing Partnership Program projects supporting $125 million for 30 projects.
  • Updated the Social Housing Accommodation Regulation to simplify the definition of income used for eligibility and rent setting into affordable housing programs and how applicants are prioritized for these programs to assist target populations that are most vulnerable.
  • Completed a thorough review of the capital maintenance and renewal process. 

2022

  • Created the Affordable Housing Partnership Program, a new grant program that provides funding to support innovative and sustainable affordable housing solutions for Albertans.
  • Developed the Affordable Housing Asset Management Framework to provide clear, transparent criteria for which assets will be kept by government, redeveloped, transferred to affordable housing providers or sold with proceeds reinvested back into affordable housing.
  • Provided municipalities with a standardized affordable housing needs assessment template to help inform decision making and support community planning.
  • Proclaimed the Alberta Housing Amendment Act into force on April 20.
  • Amended the Management Body Operation and Administration Regulation to set housing management bodies up for success as they take on bigger roles in local housing delivery.
  • Replaced the Social Housing Accommodation Exemption Regulation with the Social and Affordable Housing Accommodation Exemption Regulation to provide an incentive for housing providers and new partners to take over ownership of affordable housing properties, where it makes sense.

2021

  • Released the Stronger Foundations strategy to outline the action needed over the next 10 years to provide more affordable and accessible housing options.
  • Passed the Alberta Housing Amendment Act, which laid the groundwork for key initiatives under the strategy.
  • Launched the Find Housing online tool to make it easier for applicants to connect with housing options that meet their needs.
  • Redesigned the Rent Supplement Program to support more households and provide a temporary benefit to working households.

Next steps

The 10-year strategy provides a roadmap to improve the housing system, cut red tape and build collaborative relationships with partners. Next steps include:

  • Evaluating the recent amendments to the income verification process to ensure target populations are being served as intended.
  • Continuing to invest in housing digital services to improve data and reporting for partners and ministry staff.
  • Expanding the use of housing cost supports to assist survivors of gender-based violence.
  • Developing a capital maintenance and redevelopment plan for all government owned assets.
  • Working with seniors’ lodge providers to implement recommendations to government to expand seniors’ lodges and facilities to keep up with increased growth and demand.

How we got here

The Affordable Housing Review Panel was formed in July 2020 to review the affordable housing system and provide recommendations for much needed short- and long-term improvements.

The expert panel met with stakeholder organizations including affordable housing providers, private companies and civil society organizations representing groups most in need of affordable housing.

Feedback collected was used to create a report that was submitted to the Minister of Seniors and Housing. The report outlined 19 recommendations needed to transform Alberta’s affordable housing system, including the first recommendation to develop a provincial strategic plan for housing.

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