The federal government is providing over $41 million to the City of Saskatoon to fast track housing, and in particular, affordable housing near transit and around post-secondary institutions. It means 940 housing units being built over the next three years through the Housing Accelerator Fund, which the City estimates this will help spur the construction of more than 25,200 homes across the city in the next decade, with the fund also helping to cut red tape for building new homes.

Mayor Charlie Clark says the plan will speed up development near transit and in downtown Saskatoon. Zoning changes will allow for greater building height near popular transit routes and more density near post-secondary institutions. It will also encourage more medium-density and multi-family homes such as townhouses and multiplexes. The idea is to also streamline the processes for supportive housing with wrap-around services like health care, social work and keeping accessibility in mind for the design.

Minister of Employment and Workforce Development Randy Boissonault says the process to get the funding is competitive. He explains that cities that pledge to do more to show how many more units can be built are accepted through this Housing Accelerator Fund.

Mayor Clark says last year, over 14,000 people moved to Saskatoon, more than doubling any previous record, but only 2,600 houses were built, so he realizes how challenging it can be to find a home, with mortgage interest rates rising and rents going up 10 per cent. “We will be leveraging this funding to partner with post-secondary institutions to get housing built where student housing is needed. We will be working directly with affordable housing providers to accelerate the development of affordable housing, as well, we have targeted in our application money towards wrap-around supports.”