HAF Overview
- The funding is meant to remove barriers and support the development of affordable, inclusive, equitable and climate-resilient communities.
- Incentive funding can be used for prescribed uses, which fall under 4 categories:
- Investments in Housing Accelerator Fund Action Plans
- Investments in Affordable Housing
- Investments in Housing-Related Infrastructure
- Investments in Community-Related Infrastructure that Supports Housing
CMHC News Release
Haines Junction will receive $1,234,637 to support its Action Plan which commits to five local initiatives that are projected to incentivize 20 additional permitted units over the next three years and help spur the construction of 90 homes over the next decade. Planned initiatives include zoning changes to remove barriers to missing middle housing and promote higher density, improvements to building permitting and approvals process, launching a new dwelling construction grant program for young residents, a review of recreation and community services, as well as the promotion of more mixed-use opportunities that can lead to more housing.
News Release: Helping build more homes faster in four Yukon communities
Public Notice
The Village of Haines Junction announced its receipt of just over $1.2M from the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) on May 9, 2024. Shortly after the announcement, a Project and Asset Manager was hired on a three-year term to oversee implementation of the HAF Agreement between CMHC and the Village of Haines Junction.
Public Notice: HAF Funding Announcement
HAF Action Plan Initiatives
Initiative #1 Zoning Bylaw Review to Remove Barriers to Missing Middle Housing & Promote Higher Density Residential Development
This initiative focuses on increasing permitted "missing middle" units in Haines Junction. Current zoning is restrictive considers only single-family dwellings, and does not promote density in areas that can accommodate more housing. While the zoning bylaw review will look at many aspects of the zoning bylaw, it will look to facilitate this increase in density and permits through missing middle forms of housing.
Learn more about the 2024 Zoning Bylaw
See also: Initiative #5 Promote Higher Density Residential Development & Commercial Mixed-use Opportunities
Initiative #2 Improve Building Permitting and Approvals Processes
This initiative focuses specifically on improving and simplifying the building approvals processes for Haines Junction’s property developers. Currently, the Government of Yukon provides building permits and approvals and the Village of Haines Junction issues development permits. We can describe this current system as fragmented, costly, and sometimes, uncertain. The Village would like to work with the Government of Yukon and develop solutions to streamline and simplify the building permit process.
Initiative #3 New Dwelling Construction Grant Program for Young Residents
The New Dwelling Construction Grant Program will assist young Haines Junction residents 35 years old and under with offsetting the cost of building a new primary dwelling in the Community. This initiative is focused solely on increasing the housing supply and improving affordability for young people in our community.
The policy, bylaw, application forms and agreement documents are currently being drafted. The application period is expected to open in September 2024 with a lottery process to follow in Fall 2024. The Village of Haines Junction will issue a Public Notice when the application period opens.
Coming soon: New Dwelling Construction Grant for Young Residents Policy, Bylaw and Application Forms
Initiative #4 Recreation and Community Services Review to Support Long-Term Residency
This initiative will build on the findings of the 2023 Recreation Needs Assessment to help guide Village investments in recreation related amenities, programs and infrastructure. It will also explore completing a community services review and/or economic development strategy to assess other ways to support long-term residency.
Initiative #5 Promote Higher Density Residential Development & Commercial Mixed-use Opportunities
The Village's current zoning bylaw already permits zoning as-of-right for many uses, but the revised zoning bylaw will look to expand the number of uses that lead to housing and promote higher density mixed-use developments. Our goal is to use these changes as an opportunity to promote more housing as well as bring in more commercial development in Haines Junction.
Learn more about the 2024 Zoning Bylaw
See also: Initiative #1 Zoning Bylaw Review to Remove Barriers to Missing Middle Housing & Promote Higher Density Residential Development
Other Initiatives
Affordable Housing Construction Grant
On June 26, 2024 the Village of Haines Junction posted a Call for Expressions of Interest from local developers to create affordable housing in Haines Junction. This initiative provides an opportunity for developers to come forward with innovative ideas that could benefit from the support of the Village of Haines Junction. Proposed projects should meet the CMHC definition of affordable housing and be in line with YHC's estimated housing needs for Haines Junction.
Selected projects may benefit from:
- Letters of support from the Village for developer-led application(s) to CMHC or YHC affordable housing funding programs to support the project
- Partnership in application(s) led by the Village to funders for Municipal affordable housing programs to support the project
- Up to 5% of unit costs, to a maximum of $25,000 per unit noting the following permitted uses of HAF funding may be available for approved projects:
- Construction of affordable housing
- Repair or modernization of affordable housing
- Land or building acquisition for affordable housing
Call for Expressions of Interest
The Village of Haines Junction received several Expressions of Interest from local developers to construct affordable housing for both rental and sale. Expressions of Interest are being evaluated and successful applicants will be invited to submit a proposal. Applicants are encouraged to concurrently apply for other funding opportunities from CMHC, Yukon Housing Corporation and other funders.
Coming soon: Affordable Housing Construction Grant Policy, Bylaw and Application Forms
Get in Touch
The Village of Haines Junction welcomes your feedback or ideas on the implementation of the Housing Accelerator Fund.
Please contact Lianna Grice, Project and Asset Manager, by email (projects@hainesjunction.ca), phone (867-634-7100) or stop by the Village Office for a chat!