The Faith Lands Affordable Housing Incentive helps religious charities create affordable housing on their lands.
Edmonton is facing a significant shortage of affordable housing. Many faith-based organizations own properties in established neighbourhoods – near transit and other amenities – and may wish to explore opportunities to welcome new neighbours.
The vision of developing affordable housing on faith-based lands is inspiring. But it can also be a struggle to get started. Well before construction, a pre-development phase requires highly technical and expensive studies. A project can easily stall before it begins.
The Faith Lands Affordable Housing Incentive helps faith-based charities get past that first hurdle. Eligible applicants can receive up to $135,000 per project for feasibility studies, design work and other early requirements.
This innovative, new program was developed and funded in partnership with the Edmonton Community Foundation and is a part of the City's Housing Accelerator Fund Action Plan.
Application Intake Open
Application intake for the Faith Lands Affordable Housing Incentive is open. Applications will be accepted until December 31, 2026, or until all available funds have been allocated
Funding Streams
Up to $2-million is available through 2 streams to support applicants at different stages in the process.
Stream 1: Planning and Engagement
The planning and engagement stream helps congregations still exploring options for their lands. This stream is for organizations in the very early planning stages.
Applicants can receive up to $35,000 for:
- Help with the decision-making process
- Feasibility studies and community engagement
- Exploring potential partnerships with non-profit housing providers or developers
Stream 2: Pre-development
The pre-development stream supports organizations that have arrived at a concept and are working toward a building permit.
A maximum of $100,000 is available to:
- Conduct further community engagement
- Commission technical studies
- Cover professional services, such as design and legal work
Note: Organizations that receive funding through Stream 1 can later apply to Stream 2
Apply for Incentive Funding
Applications will be accepted until December 31, 2026, or until all available funds have been allocated.
To apply, please register for an account through the Community Investment Grant Portal.
Log into Your Account Register for an Account
See the instructional video to learn how to register for an account.
Contact affordablehousing@edmonton.ca if you require assistance with the application process.
The City of Edmonton may request additional information during the review process. All submitted materials may be shared internally and with relevant funding partners as needed.
Application Evaluation Process
Organizations are encouraged to apply early. Funding is awarded as applications are submitted and reviewed.
The committee meets twice per month during the intake period.
A selection committee reviews each application against 3 criteria:
- Whether the application meets program's mandatory requirements
- Whether the budget and scope are reasonable
- Whether the development opportunity is strong enough to justify investment
All decisions are final and cannot be appealed.