Committee approves flexibility to maximize use of housing funds

The Planning and Housing Committee today approved a change that gives the City more flexibility to decide how to spend about $44 million in federal housing funds.

The Planning and Housing Committee today approved a change that gives the City more flexibility to spend $44 million in federal housing funds it expects to receive in 2027.

The federal government committed up to $176.3 million for Ottawa through the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) to help build more housing, faster. The City has already received about $132 million, with the final payment to be issued early next year, based in part on City efforts to stimulate housing development in a challenging housing market. The flexibility approved today will help the City make full use of available funding to deliver more homes for residents by the end of 2027 and beyond.

Council’s approved HAF spending plan directs 90 per cent of funding to projects in Ottawa’s Affordable Housing Pipeline. The City will continue to prioritize these projects and work with non-profit housing providers to build new affordable homes. Today’s approval will allow the City to take advantage of emerging opportunities and new partnerships to advance the construction of more affordable homes while continuing efforts to speed up approvals and reduce costs. 

The Committee also reviewed progress on HAF funding. The City is supporting 1,500 new affordable homes and partners have delivered more than 800 since 2024, with many more under construction or starting soon. The City has also completed all required milestones and is now implementing these initiatives to help reduce the time and cost of building homes, including:

• Streamlining development approvals
• Adopting a new Zoning By-law
• Creating the framework for inclusionary zoning
• Leveraging City-owned lands for affordable housing
• Creating an Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan

Committee approves zoning to support nearly 500 new homes 

The Committee approved zoning amendments for properties in Woodpark and in Kanata North that could support the development of nearly 500 new homes. 

In the Woodpark Community, the zoning amendment would allow a 24-storey residential building northwest of Carling and Edgeworth avenues. The building would add 262 new homes to a transit-friendly community less than 200 metres from Lincoln Fields Station. The proposal also features a new public pathway connecting to the National Capital Commission’s pathway network and to Lincoln Fields Station. 

In Kanata North, the zoning amendment would allow continued development of the Arcadia subdivision, northeast of Campeau Drive and Winterset Road. The site is less than 400 metres from a future O-train station and would add 232 new homes to the area, improving housing choice and supply.

How Ottawa is tracking progress on new housing 

City Council has committed to helping address the housing crisis by supporting the construction of 151,000 quality market homes by 2031. The City tracks the progress of residential development in Ottawa and shares that data through an interactive housing approvals dashboard.

Tracking began in January 2023, and between that time and the end of 2025, Council has provided approvals for more than 69,600 new homes. This means about 46 per cent of the homes needed to meet the 2031 goal can now be built. If Council approves the land-use permissions that the Committee recommended today, applicants will be able to build another 494 new homes. Since the start of 2026, it is estimated this Committee has enabled the development of about 1,320 new homes.

City Council will consider the recommendations from today’s meeting on Wednesday, June 10.