Housing Secretariat | City of Hamilton

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Housing Secretariat

Affordable Housing Development Project Stream

The Project Stream will help organize new affordable housing construction projects to meet the objectives set out in the Housing Sustainability & Investment Roadmap.

Learn more about the Affordable Housing Development Project Stream

The newly formed Housing Secretariat Division of the City of Hamilton embraces a “Whole of Hamilton” approach to identify and facilitate housing solutions that result in safe, affordable, rental and ownership housing for lower-income residents. Creating and maintaining affordable housing is one of the City of Hamilton’s key priorities and is clearly outlined in the Housing Sustainability & Investment Roadmap (HSIR)(PDF, 1.99 MB).

City Council established the Housing Secretariat through the adoption of the HSIR in April 2023. The Office reports to the General Manager, Healthy & Safe Communities with a mandate to work effectively with housing stakeholders.

The Roadmap focuses on four pillars of activity; new construction, acquisition of at-risk affordable housing, preservation of existing affordable housing and increasing the provision of housing-based supports. Progress on these four pillars will be accomplished by:

Delivering new construction and acquisition, federal, provincial, and municipal affordable housing, affordable rental, and ownership housing, revitalize communities, and create employment.
Working with the Housing Services Division as Municipal Service Manager and with other City divisions to ensure the effective and efficient use of City, provincial and federal investments, in line with city priorities and other legislative and policy frameworks such as Housing & Homelessness Action Plan.
Supporting the Mayor, and the City of Hamilton’s Senior Leadership Team in providing strategic intergovernmental relations advice on housing and homelessness issues.

We acknowledge and respect that each sector has a different role and unique opportunities to contribute to improved outcomes related to affordable housing.
We will be action-oriented and prioritize immediate and near-term actions while at the same time building a future-focused roadmap to guide our long-term efforts.
We will use the HSIR to better leverage our collective efforts to optimize resources, investments, and outcomes.
We will be courageous about change that is needed, have honest conversations, and hold each other accountable to working in new ways.
We recognize that each sector is approaching this work voluntarily and may need to make decisions that others do not agree with. While we will strive for shared vision, appropriate contributions, and commitments, this is not work by consensus. Leaders and governing bodies hold ultimate decision-making for their own organizations.
We will use the HSIR and process within it to build capacity in individuals and teams, so we have increased expertise in the various components and functions required to create and maintain affordable housing.

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Housing Secretariat

Housing Accelerator Fund

The Housing Accelerator Fund Program is propelling housing development in the City of Hamilton through seven (7) strategic initiatives.

Learn more about the Housing Accelerator Fund

Housing Secretariat

Program Information

Housing Accelerator Fund

Affordable Housing Development Project Stream

Community Members

Developers & Investors

On October 10, 2023, the Federal Government announced a Housing Accelerator Fund Agreement with the City of Hamilton, investing $93.5 million in funding.

Through the Housing Accelerator Fund investment, the City of Hamilton is geared up to surpass its previous records. Aiming high, the City has set a target to add a remarkable 2,675 net new residential units over the next three years.

To ensure the success of this ambitious target, the City of Hamilton has updated the Housing for Hamilton Community Improvement Plan and developed a HAF Housing Action Plan that comprises seven (7) strategic initiatives designed to propel housing development:

Additional Dwelling Units and Multi-Plex Housing Incentive Program
Rapid Transit Multi-Residential Rental Housing Incentive Program
Housing Acceleration Incentive Program
Land and Property Disposition Program for Housing
New and Enhanced Incentive Programs for Housing Development
Planning Review and Studies for Rapid Transit Corridors beyond the LRT
Enhanced Brownfield Remediation Incentive Program

The City of Hamilton welcomes all homeowners and developers to embark on this journey towards a more vibrant and sustainable future for Hamilton’s housing landscape.

Learn more about the Housing Accelerator Fund

Designed in consultation with community and City staff across multiple departments, we continue to take steps towards making improvements to program delivery, accessibility, reaching equity-deserving groups, and ensuring alignment with best practices. The Project Stream will also provide a clearer and more transparent process in our funding allocation decisions, which we believe will satisfy requests for the City to have a more streamlined process so that all potential affordable housing developers have an equal opportunity to pursue available funding.

The Project Stream will be a listing of all affordable housing development projects within the City of Hamilton. The list will be broken out over the next five years (2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028) and include new construction projects that will begin in the spring of each year. The Project Stream will include affordable housing projects that are supportive and transit oriented.

The Housing Secretariat invites passionate individuals to be the driving force behind change by applying for a seat at the Community Partnership Action Table – a pivotal advisory body of the Housing Secretariat.

Your insights matter, and this is your chance to actively shape the future of housing strategies in our community. Apply now for an opportunity to be a catalyst for positive transformation.

As an advisory body of the Housing Secretariat, the Community Partnership Action Table (CPAT) provides an opportunity for Hamilton community members, including people experiencing or at risk of housing insecurity, homelessness, and poverty to contribute their experiences in support of the 4 pillars of the Housing Secretariat’s Housing Sustainability & Investment Roadmap. The CPAT will focus on ensuring that the implementation of the HSIR’s 4 pillars are reflective and supports needed are available to Hamilton community members. The CPAT may also identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities for improvement to housing affordability and sustainability in the city to prevent, reduce, and end homelessness in communities throughout Hamilton.

Community Partnership Action Table Membership

Community partners and stakeholders strongly support an actionable and tactical approach to addressing Hamilton’s affordable housing crisis. The City of Hamilton’s Housing Secretariat works across city divisions and alongside the community. This collaborative, “Whole of Hamilton” approach, outlined in the Housing Sustainability & Investment Roadmap (HSIR), is critical to seeking and implementing solutions. The Housing Secretariat is guided by the HSIR PowerPoint Presentation (escribemeetings.com) and the implementation of the Roadmap requires community partnerships and first voice advocates to provide agreed upon priorities, actions, and solutions.

As an advisory body of the Housing Secretariat, the Community Partnership Action Table (CPAT) provides an opportunity for Hamilton community members, including people experiencing or at risk of housing insecurity, homelessness, and poverty to contribute their experiences in support of the 4 pillars of the Housing Secretariat’s HSIR. The CPAT will focus on ensuring that the implementation of the HSIR’s 4 pillars are reflective and supports needed are available to Hamilton community members. The CPAT may also identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities for improvement to housing affordability and sustainability in the city to prevent, reduce, and end homelessness in communities throughout Hamilton.

A “Whole of Hamilton” approach to address the necessary housing needs of the community reflects the importance of lived expertise inclusion to implement the HSIR. The Housing Secretariat centres their work from the value of Nothing about us without us: Seven principles for leadership and inclusion of people with lived experience of homelessness.

Scope of the Community Partnership Action Table

Participate in discussions, presentations, and consultations as outlined in meeting agendas.
Provide input to the implementation process of the HSIR, and mechanisms needed for housing sustainability, and help to identify solutions to mitigate and/or address gaps.
Sharing of information with members about the ongoing progress of the HSIR.
Providing input or expertise on how the Housing Sustainability and Investment Roadmap is taking a “Whole of Hamilton” approach to increasing affordable, accessible, and appropriate housing, housing security and a coordinated effort in providing housing and services delivery.
Providing input to other governing bodies as needed in the City of Hamilton.
Engaging in projects that educate the broader community in understanding the role of the Housing Secretariat and the Housing Sustainability and Investment Roadmap

Time Frame

The Community Partnership Action Table will meet once a month, or as asked, for the duration of the Housing Sustainability and Investment Roadmap.

Membership

The Community Partnership Action Table will be composed of community members throughout Hamilton, as well as those with lived or living experience of housing insecurity and homelessness. The membership shall consist minimally of:

One representative from the Housing Secretariat
Two persons with lived or living experiences as selected through an open application process and by the Housing Secretariat
Five to seven general community members

Chair

The Housing Secretariat representative will chair the CPAT meetings.

Community Partnership Action Table members should possess the following attributes:

Passion for action and solution-making.
Ability to work independently and coordinate with a team.
Some administrative skills (computer knowledge, email, typing etc.).
A combination of lived expertise and housing systems knowledge.

Methods of Recruitment

Promote committee recruitment availability through community agencies, board, and other committee members.
Promote on website and other media.
Recommendations by current members for future recruitment.

Member Selection

The Housing Secretariat will:
- Review member applications, which may include Housing Secretariat reaching out to applicants for a conversation.
- Discuss recommended candidates with the Housing Secretariat team and CHIL representatives.
- Final candidate choices will be confirmed by the Housing Secretariat Director.
- Membership will undergo an annual review to assess whether individuals wish to be included or excluded.

Participation

We understand that due to life circumstances, illness, and individual and family emergencies, that a member may need to give regrets to join meetings. Consistency in participation from the members is important for the progress of the HSIR and ensuring the voices and experiences of community are reflected in the outcomes we wish to accomplish. If any member is constantly unable to attend the meetings, the Housing Secretariat will reach out to the member for discussion and determine their interest and capacity to attend the meetings.

Meeting Frequency/Attendance Requirement

The committee will meet a maximum of 10 times per year. Meetings will be usually 60 minutes in length and held in-person and/or virtual as decided by the members. Every effort will be made to accommodate schedules by ensuring that meetings are scheduled well in advance.

We ask that members are requested to find a quiet place to attend meetings; come prepared to listen, ask questions, and contribute to the conversation.

Honorarium

The CPAT members may be offered an honorarium as per the City of Hamilton policies to ensure members are empowered to participate.

Submit Online Community Partnership Action Table - Membership Application

Paper or in-person applications can be submitted by emailing [email protected]

*Please note: Membership for the 2024 Community Partnership Action Table is now full. Applications can still be submitted and will be placed on a waitlist for when space becomes available. If you have any questions email [email protected]

Welcome to the future of Affordable Housing in the City of Hamilton! The Housing Secretariat is excited to unveil an innovative opportunity for developers and investors to collaborate in reshaping the landscape of affordable housing.

Our application process is your gateway to becoming a key contributor to the creation of a vibrant and sustainable community. Together, let’s build a foundation for inclusive living and make a lasting impact on the affordability and accessibility of housing in our city.

Submit Online Expression of Interest

Housing Secretariat

Documents & Reports

Housing Sustainability & Investment Roadmap

Housing Sustainability and Investment Roadmap – November 2024 Update Affordable Housing Development Project Stream Q1 2024 Results (HSC23028(e) / FC…Affordable Housing Development Project Evaluation Process Housing Sustainability and Investment Roadmap - November 2023 Update Update Regarding Housing with Supports - ECS Committee August 17, 2023 Housing Sustainability & Investment Roadmap Governance (PDF, 4.94 MB)Housing Sustainability & Investment Roadmap Report - GIC April 19, 2023 Presentation Toward a Sustainable Housing System in Hamilton - GIC March 09, 20…Housing Sustainability and Investment Roadmap Update - GIC Dec 1, 2022 Initial Housing Sustainability & Investment Plan - ECS Aug 11, 2022

Housing & Homelessness Reports & Committee Meetings

Housing Sustainability and Investment Plan - ECS Committee August 17, 2023 COCHI-OPHI Funding - ECS June 15, 2023 Ending Chronic Homelessness Report - ECS March 23, 2023 Arkledun (Dorothy Day Centre) Funding - ECS March 23, 2023 Renovictions Stakeholder Review Report - GIC April 20, 2023 Affordable Housing Funding Program - ECS March 1, 2023 Arkledun Project - Permanent Housing with Supports - ECS Aug 11, 2022

Date modified

February 24, 2025