Housing Accelerator Fund Approval!

Posted on 20 May 202420 May 2024

In September 2023, Otter Housing Association submitted an application to Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) for the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) on behalf of the Town of Port Rexton. Our application included five initiatives: 

  Otter Housing Association Partnership

• Through this initiative, the Town of Port Rexton will work with Otter Housing Association, a non-profit housing association in Port Rexton, to create an effective working relationship in order to facilitate growth in affordable housing in the community. The goal of this initiative is to create a partnership that supports non-profit organizations in creating and maintaining affordable housing.

Encouraging Affordable Housing in Port Rexton

•  With this initiative, the Town of Port Rexton will encourage residential conversions and new-build affordable housing using financial incentives. The Town will waive building and other fees associated with development for affordable housing by changing its fee schedule. The Town will defer property tax for affordable housing and also implement policies to fast-track applications for affordable housing. These changes will encourage and support long-term affordable housing in the community.

Batson’s Road Infrastructure and Neighborhood Planning

• Through this initiative, the Town of Port Rexton will update its infrastructure planning in order to develop a new area of the community with an extension to Batson’s Road that will unlock future housing development. For the community to pursue its growth targets, there must be a new residential development within the community. 

 Modular Housing in Port Rexton

• With this initiative, the Town of Port Rexton will support and encourage the use of modular building technology in the new-build housing development with Otter Housing Association as well as other new-build projects in Port Rexton. Modular building allows for off-site, factory-style construction of large units of a building e.g. wall panels, which are transported and positioned onsite. This technique has many advantages over traditional construction techniques.

Port Rexton Climate Adaptability and Mitigation Plan

• This initiative will help produce a Climate Action Plan to increase public awareness on climate change and its effects. The Town of Port Rexton will create more opportunity for awareness and education around climate change in the community. 

We are overjoyed to announce that the Town of Port Rexton has secured nearly $900,000 for these initiatives which are aimed at creating affordable rental housing in our community. We deeply appreciate the relationship we have built with the Town and look forward to working together to address Port Rexton’s housing needs through innovative and sustainable approaches.

Please stay tuned to our website and consider subscribing to our newsletter for ongoing project updates. Additionally, be sure to watch for upcoming public engagements and workshops where you can provide input and stay informed.