Lethbridge’s application denied for federal housing grant program
LETHBRIDGE, AB – An application by the City of Lethbridge to the Housing Accelerator Fund Program has been denied.
Officials said the denial from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) is disappointing news as Lethbridge could have been eligible for $6.25 million, “which would have been a significant boost” to address housing concerns. Just 179 out of 544 applicants were successful in their bid for funding from the Housing Accelerator Fund.
The City of Lethbridge has met with CMHC to debrief on its application and learn how future applications could be improved. Specifics were not shared, but CMHC did note the competitiveness of the grant was a barrier for Lethbridge. The corporation added that the successful applicants “demonstrated more ambitious approaches to implementing structural and lasting reforms to increase the supply of housing”.
The $4 billion program was announced by CMHC in March of 2023 and was designed specifically for municipalities. It required that applicants commit to at least seven action plan initiatives that systemically reduce local barriers to the development of housing, while also committing to an increase to their community’s housing growth rates.
