Programs for Builders, Developers and Homeowners

The OPHI New Rental Housing component is intended to increase the supply of community rental housing for households on, or eligible to be on, social housing waiting lists; to help ensure that safe, adequate and affordable rental housing is available to Ontario households.

If you are a non-profit organization planning to build new affordable rental housing in Muskoka and have a shovel-ready project for this year, our housing team would like to connect with you! Please submit an expression of interest by email to affordablehousing@muskoka.on.ca by 4:00 p.m. on Friday, August 13th, 2021.

Eligibility Criteria - Projects

Eligible projects must be non-profit/municipal/co-operative developments or partnerships, and be one of the following:

• New construction, including additions and extensions
• Acquisition and, where required, rehabilitation of existing residential buildings to maintain or increase the affordable rental housing stock
• Conversion of non-residential buildings or units to purpose-built rental buildings/units

Recommended projects shall:

• Be approved by council and/or board based on municipal/board procurement practices and in accordance with the Municipal Act, 2001.
• Be able to sign a Contribution Agreement no later than December 31 of each program year.
• Be able to start construction within 120 days after signing a Contribution Agreement and be completed within four years.
• Be financially viable from a construction and operating cost perspective – based on Service Manager confirmation.
• Meet the current Ontario Building Code and Canadian Environment Assessment Act, 2012 requirements.
• Have rents that on average for the project are at or below 80% of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Average Market Rent for the community or as approved by the Ministry for a minimum of 20 years (see “Affordability Criteria and Rents” on page 31 of the OPHI program guidelines for additional details).
• Provide the required equity, if applicable – 4% for partnerships between private sector and non-profit organizations; 0% for non-profit organizations.
• Address local housing needs and target tenant groups identified in local housing and homelessness plans.
• Are projected to maximize achievable reductions in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions relative to minimum requirements (i.e. meet or exceed the current National Energy Code and Ontario Building Code requirements for new construction; for renovations/repairs, maximize the achievable energy savings where possible when planning work or retrofits).
• Have an occupancy plan in place to ensure that units will be occupied in a timely manner.

 Priority consideration will be given to projects that:

• Have Contributions by Others, including the Service Manager, local municipality, and proponent – to be used in partnership with OPHI Rental Housing funding.
• Include family-sized (multi-bedroom) units.
• Are fully accessible and/or have units that are accessible to persons with disabilities.
• Provide community employment benefits including:
  • Work contracts for small and medium-sized businesses
  • Job creation for apprentices, Indigenous Peoples, women in construction, veterans and newcomers to Canada
• Have support service funding in place, if applicable.

For additional information about the OPHI Rental Housing Component, please refer to the OPHI program guidelines.

Capital Incentive Funding is available through the MAHIP program. Through Capital Incentive Funding, developers, builders and homeowners may be eligible to receive funding towards the construction of rental housing. Funding amounts vary based on the affordability period as per below:

Homeowners wishing to develop a secondary suite in an owner occupied home may be eligible for funding up to $25,000 for an affordability period of 8 years. Learn more about opportunities available below:

Building on the goals of the Muskoka Ten Year Housing and Homelessness Plan and a "housing first" approach, MAHIP has the following key objectives:

• Increase the supply of affordable housing and rental accommodation in the District of Muskoka by providing funding to Developers, Builders, and Landlords to encourage them to build and provide affordable housing in the District
• Offer funding for an array of housing options that address affordable housing needs across the housing continuum
• Encourage and support project applications that include prioritized outcomes such as attractive design and appearance, opportunities for tenant participation and engagement, and preferred locations
• Support individuals and families who cannot afford current market rents by offering rent subsidies