Nationwide response to the Getting Started Round of the Housing Supply Challenge

A total of 167 teams from across Canada propose solutions to tackle housing supply challenges.

Launched in October 2020, the Housing Supply Challenge, led by Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), asked residents and experts across Canada to come up with bold and innovative solutions to change the face of housing in our communities. The second Challenge Round—Getting Started: Pre-development Processes—kicked off on June 9, 2021 and invited applicants to submit locally relevant solutions that improve the pre-development process for housing that is affordable.

The Housing Supply Challenge Support Program, run by Evergreen, has supported hundreds of potential applicants to develop and improve their submission for the Challenge through events, resources and outreach activities. The application deadline has now closed and the response has been inspiring.

Stage One applicants at a glance:

• 146 eligible teams from 10 provinces and 1 territory submitted applications with wide-ranging innovative approaches to tackling housing supply challenges – that’s more than 740 individuals advancing housing solutions
• Applications were submitted by for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, post-secondary institutions, Indigenous organizations, and government bodies
• Proposed housing supply solutions seek to address the housing needs of low-income households, rural and urban communities, young adults, newcomers (including refugees), and seniors
• More than 1,100 potential applicants attended live events or viewed recordings hosted by the support program, including the Pre-Launch, the Info Session, the World Café, the Systems and Design Thinking Workshop, and the Writing Successful Proposals Workshop
• Since June, Evergreen has engaged with over 2,200 potential applicants from across the country via phone calls and emails to answer questions and guide them through the application process
• 43 potential applicants joined our growing Applicant Forum to network and share resources
• Potential applicants accessed dozens of resources to develop their solutions, including a series of Design Thinking Modules

Stay tuned for CMHC’s announcement in early November on the up to 30 shortlisted applicants for Stage Two of the Getting Started Round. Each group will receive up to $75,000 in incubation funding to prototype their housing solution.

Visit the Housing Supply Challenge Support Program to learn more about housing solutions and future Rounds scheduled to launch in 2022.