CAHF feedback on Housing Strategy
Calgary Affordable Housing Foundation provided the City of Calgary with feedback on the refreshed Home is Here Housing Strategy. We're sharing the letter on social media and here to encourage other community members and organizations to also share their thoughts. Affordable housing, and in particular, non-market housing, is in critical need in Calgary. Families, vulnerable Calgarians, neighbours and friends need support. Please join in the discussion and offer your perspectives on the City's approach and actions.
Full letter sent to the City:
Dear City of Calgary Mayor and Council,
Calgary Affordable Housing Foundation (CAHF) offers the following commentary on the City of Calgary’s Home is Here Refresh: The City of Calgary’s Housing Strategy 2026-2030.
CAHF supports the City of Calgary’s continued focus on affordable housing, and specifically non-market or deeply affordable housing. As noted in the report, there is a critical need for affordable housing, and the need is growing each year in Calgary. In 2026, it’s estimated that there are 110,000 households in need.
The crisis is further evidenced by growing waitlists for housing support. Calgary Housing currently reports 7,739 Calgarians are on a waitlist for housing support as of end of July 2026.
CAHF commends the City’s refocussed Home is Here refresh and supports significant municipal funding to achieve the targets outlined in the streamlined action plan. Municipal support for housing supports across the entire continuum of housing is essential. As noted in the report, municipal funding is targeted to be “first-in,” and this critical funding often helps to unlock provincial and federal funding opportunities. Philanthropic capital, such as that raised by CAHF, is also often a component of a full project funding stack, and we would encourage the City to consider the role of philanthropic capital moving forward.
The report notes a need to be nimble with respect to shifting programs and policies of other levels of government. CAHF would also urge the City of Calgary to consider innovative approaches in tri-government funding opportunities, including matching funds connected to philanthropic capital.
CAHF notes that the previous goal of 3,000 new non-market units annually established in the original Home is Here strategy has been removed from the refreshed version. We understand and appreciate that the City doesn’t have the funding and capacity to achieve this target, and that any new target will be established in tandem with city budgeting processes. CAHF urges that sufficient funding be provided to significantly increase the number of new non-market homes each year. CAHF also urges that a specific target be developed for new non-market homes as well as an OECD percentage goal for non-market housing. (The previous report noted 7 percent non-market housing as the goal, in alignment with OECD benchmarks.) Without specific targets, the gap in available non-market housing will continue to grow, putting more Calgarians at risk. CAHF would further support tangible targets for the percentage of non-market housing projects supporting communities facing systemic barriers (Action Item 8), and specific targets for the number of Calgarians and organizations supported (Action Item 9).
CAHF offers its full support for the 10 action items noted in the refresh and encourages the City to ensure the actions are supported financially moving forward. The need for additional land awards for non-market housing is critical, as is the need for additional homes specifically built for indigenous populations. CAHF supports diversity in housing options and encourages council to increase diversity of housing across all neighbourhoods over time. CAHF also applauds the target of prioritizing and accelerating application reviews and approvals and encourages the necessary resourcing and financing to achieve the noted targets.
CAHF supports ongoing advocacy to other levels of government to ensure that community-led solutions are available for Calgarians. CAHF is here to assist the City and will ensure we continue to reach out to staff and elected officials to provide our advocacy support.
On behalf of CAHF leadership and our Board, we appreciate and value the City’s ongoing commitment to ensuring that all Calgarians have an affordable place to call home.
Sincerely,
Mike Meldrum
CEO
Calgary Affordable Housing Foundation