Red Deer council allocates HAF2 funding
Published 3:42 pm Tuesday, September 15, 2026
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Red Deer city council has approved a budget amendment regarding the allocation of the $3.1 million received through the federal Housing Accelerator Fund 2 (HAF2).
Earlier this year, the Government of Canada cancelled Red Deer’s $12-million Housing Accelerator Fund grant, including an already-received $3.1 million first instalment, because the city did not comply with a mandatory program requirement to implement “four-units-as-of-right” zoning regulation.
On July 22, the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Gregor Robertson wrote a letter officially announcing that Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation would not be seeking repayment of the advanced funds and acknowledged the city’s intent to spend the money on the identified housing initiatives.
During Tuesday, Sept. 15’s regular meeting, council unanimously approved a budget amendment that would result in the allocation of the funding as follows:
— $2.9 million for Permanent Supportive Housing Financial Incentive Grant program;
— $150,000 for Comprehensive Housing Strategy update;
— $40,000 for public engagement activities.
As soon as approvals were officially received to keep the funding administration began working on request for proposal that will be publicly advertised this fall for eligible community housing providers and organizations to apply for the available Permanent Supportive Housing grant funding. This work is currently underway and still needs to be refined and reviewed prior to official release.
The Comprehensive Housing Strategy will provide a co-ordinated, long-term roadmap for housing across the full housing continuum, identifying housing gaps and opportunities to improve housing supply, affordability, choice and stability, including missing middle housing.
The strategy directly supports the Housing that Works for Red Deer, council term direction focus, while also supporting fiscal discipline, safe and supported neighbourhoods, and economic growth,” stated a City Planning and Growth report presented to council.