Aging housing stock, rising energy costs and increasing demand for affordable housing have created a unique challenge for municipalities and other affordable housing providers working to build better lives.

Our $300 million initiative offers support to local affordable housing providers – including municipal, not-for-profit organizations and housing co-ops – to retrofit existing affordable housing units, or construct energy efficient new builds that emit lower GHG emissions.

Our new funding and learning resources can help your community achieve the following:

  • Retrofit existing units or construct new affordable housing
  • Generate triple bottom line benefits:
    • Reduce energy and GHG intensity
    • Increase energy and housing affordability
    • Improve building quality, and increase comfort, health and quality of life for residents

About the SAH offer

Sustainable Affordable Housing Application Guide 2022

GMF offers support throughout the life cycle of an affordable housing construction project through five funding options:

  • Planning: Early support to assist eligible housing providers to get started on achieving more sustainable affordable housing initiatives
  • Studies: Assess the approaches needed to implement an eligible energy efficient pilot or capital project in detail
  • Pilot projects: Test out a new or innovative approach on a small scale
  • Retrofit capital projects: Complete the renovation of existing housing units with the installation of energy efficient technologies
  • New-build capital projects: Construct new homes that are highly energy efficient

As part of our SAH initiative, our Regional Energy Coaches (RECs) will help affordable housing providers initiate energy efficiency retrofits and new builds.

Read our application guide for details.

Visit our resource library for a curated list of tools to retrofit existing units or build new affordable housing.

Update: We've re-opened our SAH pilot projects funding offer with even more ambition. We’re raising the bar to attract the country’s leading-edge projects and leveling up our expectations to fund highly innovative projects that generate ambitious environmental outcomes—and significant GHG reductions—for affordable housing providers and their communities. Learn more.

Due to high demand and success of the FCM’s Sustainable Affordable Housing (SAH) initiative, processing times may vary across our several funding areas as we manage the volume of applications.

Thanks to all current and future applicants for their interest. We look forward to working together to make our communities more sustainable and affordable.


FCM’s Sustainable Affordable Housing (SAH) initiative is delivered through the Green Municipal Fund (GMF) and funded by the Government of Canada.

Featured News

See featured news related to Sustainable Affordable Housing.

Delivering hundreds of new sustainable and affordable housing units across British Columbia

The City of Vancouver is receiving $7,081,100 for the Coal Harbour mixed-use passive affordable housing development.

Learn more on FCM.ca

Canada and FCM announce support for net zero energy ready affordable housing in Rossland, B.C.

The Government of Canada and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) are investing in communities to provide sustainable and affordable housing for residents.

Learn more on FCM.ca

Canada and FCM invest in affordable housing for seniors in Vancouver

The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson, Minister of Natural Resources and Garth Frizzell, Past President of FCM announced a $10 million investment through the Green Municipal Fund's (GMF) Sustainable Affordable Housing (SAH) initiative to support the redevelopment of two buildings.

Learn more on FCM.ca

Featured resources

See featured resources, news, events and training related to Sustainable Affordable Housing.

Webinar recording: Affordable housing providers’ impact on energy poverty

How energy poverty intersects with affordable housing, and what we can do to reduce it.

Read more

Regional Energy Coaches

These coaches will help affordable housing providers – including municipal, not-for-profit organizations and housing co-operatives – initiate and plan energy efficient retrofits and new builds.

Read more

Webinar recording: Asset management and energy conservation

Improve energy efficiency and reduce costs in non-profit housing

Read more

Factsheets: Sustainable Affordable Housing

How to improve the performance of new and existing buildings

Read more

Case studies

Read about initiatives your peers have run using GMF funding. Their stories are inspiring.

Case study: Raising the bar on community housing retrofits

Affordable housing project generates valuable lessons

Read more

Case study: Consultation and innovation improves performance

Ottawa affordable housing project raises the bar on sustainability

Read more

Case study: Energy retrofit delivers multiple benefits

Improved air quality and resident comfort

Read more

Have questions about Sustainable Affordable Housing?

Contact our Outreach team who can answer any questions you have relating to this funding opportunity.

Take me to SAH funding offer

Get funding for planning, studies, pilot and capital projects

Learn more

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The Green Municipal Fund is a $1 billion program, delivered by the Federation of Canadian Municipalities and funded by the Government of Canada.