City of Edmonton
City of Edmonton
08/19/2026 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 08/19/2026 14:37
Edmonton Rental Protection Program grant preserves low-cost housing
August 19, 2026
A new City of Edmonton grant will help non-profit organizations keep low-cost housing that could otherwise be lost to redevelopment.
Over the past 15 years, Edmonton has lost more than 15,500 units of low-cost market rental housing, putting greater pressure on households with the lowest incomes. More than 18,000 Edmonton households are in extreme housing need, meaning that they spend more than half of their income on housing.
The new Edmonton Rental Protection Program helps non-profit organizations buy and renovate low-cost market housing to keep it affordable over the long term. Rents in these homes will be capped at 80 per cent of the average market rent.
"When housing costs go up, non-market affordable housing acts as a critical safety valve to keep people safe, protect frontline services and prevent homelessness," said Mayor Andrew Knack. "This grant will help non-profit organizations do what they do best, find cost-effective ways to improve the lives of the Edmontonians they serve."
The $2-million grant includes $1 million from the City of Edmonton and $1 million from the federal government's Housing Accelerator Fund. The program is modelled after the Federal Canada Rental Protection Fund, which helps non-profit housing providers buy existing rental properties.
Eligible organizations can receive up to $20,000 per unit, to a maximum of 10 per cent of the total purchase price, to buy existing market housing. The grant can also cover up to 25 per cent of renovation costs.
The new program builds on existing work to increase Edmonton's affordable and social housing inventory. The City's grant can be combined with funding from the Provincial Affordable Housing Partnership Program and Indigenous Housing Capital Program, as well as the Federal Canada Rental Protection Fund.
GEF Seniors Housing is a non-profit organization that provides quality housing for more than 4,000 low- to moderate-income seniors across Edmonton. GEF recently purchased a rental apartment community in Griesbach, expanding its housing options and helping more seniors access affordable, well-maintained and secure homes.
"At GEF Seniors Housing, we see firsthand how affordable housing plays an important role in helping seniors remain independent, connected and engaged in their communities," said Dale Forbes, Chief Executive Officer, GEF. "Investments in grants and programs like the new Rental Protection Program ensure more Edmontonians find a stable and affordable place to call home. We're pleased to see continued support for affordable housing. As the need continues to grow, partnerships like this help meet the demand and create more opportunities for seniors in our communities."
Civida is Edmonton's largest provider of community and affordable housing. For more than 50 years, it has managed thousands of homes and provided rent assistance to help low- and moderate-income individuals and families access safe, stable housing.
"Edmonton's new Rental Protection Program is an important step forward, empowering non-profit housing providers to continue leading efforts to expand affordable housing and improve access for residents," said Bree Claude, CEO, Civida. "This investment builds important momentum, and by continuing to work together across the housing sector, we can preserve more affordable homes and ensure more Edmontonians have access to safe, stable housing for years to come."
HomeEd is a non-profit organization that provides affordable apartments and townhouses for rent across Edmonton. It recently converted a market rental building at Riverview Crossing in Rundle into affordable housing.
"HomeEd's experience has demonstrated that one of the fastest ways to increase the availability of affordable housing for Edmontonians in need is for nonprofits to acquire market rentals and offer them at below-market rates," said Nick Lilley, CEO, HomeEd. "The Rental Protection Fund is a crucial step towards making that approach more financially viable and operationally sustainable. We look forward to partnering with the City of Edmonton through this program to ensure more Edmontonians can access quality homes at affordable rents, now and in the future."
Quick facts
Over the past 15 years, Edmonton has lost more than 15,500 units of low-cost market rental housing, putting greater pressure on households with the lowest incomes. More than 18,000 Edmonton households are in extreme housing need, meaning that they spend more than half of their income on housing.
The new Edmonton Rental Protection Program helps non-profit organizations buy and renovate low-cost market housing to keep it affordable over the long term. Rents in these homes will be capped at 80 per cent of the average market rent.
"When housing costs go up, non-market affordable housing acts as a critical safety valve to keep people safe, protect frontline services and prevent homelessness," said Mayor Andrew Knack. "This grant will help non-profit organizations do what they do best, find cost-effective ways to improve the lives of the Edmontonians they serve."
The $2-million grant includes $1 million from the City of Edmonton and $1 million from the federal government's Housing Accelerator Fund. The program is modelled after the Federal Canada Rental Protection Fund, which helps non-profit housing providers buy existing rental properties.
Eligible organizations can receive up to $20,000 per unit, to a maximum of 10 per cent of the total purchase price, to buy existing market housing. The grant can also cover up to 25 per cent of renovation costs.
The new program builds on existing work to increase Edmonton's affordable and social housing inventory. The City's grant can be combined with funding from the Provincial Affordable Housing Partnership Program and Indigenous Housing Capital Program, as well as the Federal Canada Rental Protection Fund.
GEF Seniors Housing is a non-profit organization that provides quality housing for more than 4,000 low- to moderate-income seniors across Edmonton. GEF recently purchased a rental apartment community in Griesbach, expanding its housing options and helping more seniors access affordable, well-maintained and secure homes.
"At GEF Seniors Housing, we see firsthand how affordable housing plays an important role in helping seniors remain independent, connected and engaged in their communities," said Dale Forbes, Chief Executive Officer, GEF. "Investments in grants and programs like the new Rental Protection Program ensure more Edmontonians find a stable and affordable place to call home. We're pleased to see continued support for affordable housing. As the need continues to grow, partnerships like this help meet the demand and create more opportunities for seniors in our communities."
Civida is Edmonton's largest provider of community and affordable housing. For more than 50 years, it has managed thousands of homes and provided rent assistance to help low- and moderate-income individuals and families access safe, stable housing.
"Edmonton's new Rental Protection Program is an important step forward, empowering non-profit housing providers to continue leading efforts to expand affordable housing and improve access for residents," said Bree Claude, CEO, Civida. "This investment builds important momentum, and by continuing to work together across the housing sector, we can preserve more affordable homes and ensure more Edmontonians have access to safe, stable housing for years to come."
HomeEd is a non-profit organization that provides affordable apartments and townhouses for rent across Edmonton. It recently converted a market rental building at Riverview Crossing in Rundle into affordable housing.
"HomeEd's experience has demonstrated that one of the fastest ways to increase the availability of affordable housing for Edmontonians in need is for nonprofits to acquire market rentals and offer them at below-market rates," said Nick Lilley, CEO, HomeEd. "The Rental Protection Fund is a crucial step towards making that approach more financially viable and operationally sustainable. We look forward to partnering with the City of Edmonton through this program to ensure more Edmontonians can access quality homes at affordable rents, now and in the future."
Quick facts
- Intake for pre-qualifications is now open. Interested applicants must first be pre-qualified before submitting a funding application.
- Applications are accepted on a continuing basis throughout the year until all funding is allocated.
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The grant funding model provides a maximum funding commitment by the City of:
- Acquisition Only: Less than $1 million, up to a maximum ten per cent of the purchase offer or $20,000 per affordable housing unit, whichever is less.
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Acquisition & Rehabilitation: Less than $1 million in combined funding, including:
- Up to ten per cent of the purchase offer or $20,000 per affordable housing unit, whichever is less, for acquisition; and
- Up to 25 per cent of rehabilitation costs identified in a Building Condition Assessment.
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Affordable housing is operated, funded or created through direct government subsidies. There are different types of affordable housing to meet different needs.
- Social housing: Rental units intended for very low- to low-income households.
- Non-market affordable rentals: Units geared towards low- to moderate-income households, defined as deep subsidy (less than 50 per cent of average market rent) or shallow subsidy (less than 80 per cent of average market rent).
- Near-market affordable rentals: Units geared towards moderate-income households which cost 80 per cent of average market rent.
- Supportive housing: Subsidized housing with on-site support services.
- Mixed-market affordable housing: Combines rental units offered at market rates with units offered at below-market rates, creating a financially sustainable approach to affordable housing.
- One in eight households, one in four renter households and one in three Indigenous renter households are in core housing need, meaning they pay too much for housing or live in crowded or unsafe conditions and can't afford to move. This number is projected to increase in the next five years.
- If a household makes $45K or less annually, their rent needs to be under $1,125 per month to meet other daily needs.
- By 2031, Edmonton is projected to need 39,700 more affordable rental housing units, 1,400 to 1,700 supportive housing units and 189 transitional housing units to address the demand for affordable, adequate and suitable housing.
City of Edmonton published this content on August 19, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on August 19, 2026 at 20:37 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]