FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Guelph, ON
September 18, 2025
Government of Canada launches Build Canada Homes
Over the past 5 years, the federal government has invested almost $80 Million to support affordable and supportive housing projects in Guelph like Silver Maples Seniors Community, Grace Gardens, 10 Shelldale, in addition to rapid and transitional housing initiatives for the unhoused such as Stepping Stone and 65 Delhi Street. Local leadership on non-market housing has been exemplary, still more needs to be done to help Canadians – particularly young Canadians – who are struggling to find homes they can afford.
This week, Prime Minister Carney, launchedBuild Canada Homes – a new federal agency that will catalyse affordable housing at scale. Build Canada Homes will help fight homelessness by building transitional and supportive housing – answering a need expressed by local governments and Indigenous communities. It will build deeply affordable and community housing for low-income households and partner with private developers to build affordable homes for Canadians. The agency will leverage public lands, offer flexible financial incentives, attract private capital while supporting modern manufacturers to build the homes that Canadians need by bringing faster approvals and incentives to the table.
“Build Canada Homes will focus primarily on non-market housing while supporting a mix of income needs as part of a national effort to double housing construction, restore affordability, and reduce homelessness,” explains Guelph MP, Dominique O’Rourke. “I am eager to hear more about all the exciting projects Guelph has in the pipeline so we can tackle housing affordability.”
There are three key pillars to this new approach:
- First, Build Canada Homes will partner with industry, other orders of government, and Indigenous communities to build affordable housing at scale and at speed-with an initial $13 billion investment
- Second, Build Canada Homes will deploy capital, create demand, and harness innovative housing technologies to build faster and more sustainably with the potential to cut building timelines by up to 50%, reduce costs by as much as 20%, and lower emissions by approximately 20% during construction
- Third, Build Canada Homes will adopt the government’s new Buy Canadian policy and prioritize projects that use Canadian materials– from lumber and steel to aluminum and mass timber.
Further details on these investments will be announced over the coming months. To develop additional projects this year, Build Canada Homes will immediately begin engaging to move projects forward.
“Build Canada Homes is an important opportunity to advance solutions to housing insecurity and homelessness. By focusing on non-market housing, including deeply affordable and supportive housing for those at greatest risk, and working collaboratively with governments and communities, it can help build on local momentum to create the safe, stable and affordable homes our community needs.” Dominica McPherson, Director, Guelph & Wellington Task Force for Poverty Elimination
Every year, we spend billions on temporary, emergency fixes - shelters, ER visits and crisis response - that only mitigate the symptoms of our country’s housing crisis, not provide a solution. The launch of Build Canada Homes is a step in the right direction to embrace housing as a critical component of our social infrastructure. The non-profit sector, whose mission is affordability and whose track record shows what’s possible with the right investment and partnerships, is ready to continue to partner with the federal government to advance action on ensuring everyone has a place to call home, regardless of their income.
Glenna Banda, Executive Director, United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin and Co-Chair of the Home for Good Campaign
For more information visit the Build Canada Homes website.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Lianne Cassidy
Chief of Staff to Dominique O'Rourke
Member of Parliament for Guelph
519-837-5170