Thompson/ Okanagan
CMHC Mortgage Loan Insurance Refund
CMHC offers a 10% refund on your mortgage loan insurance premium and an extended 35 year amortization period for purchasing an energy-efficient home, or making energy-efficient renovations
Sponsoring agency:
Canadian Housing & Mortgage Corporation (CHMC)
Type of agency:
Federal government
Program offerings
10% refund on insurance premiums, and extended 35 year mortgage amortization period.
Eligibility
For a new purchase, the home must be either R2000 certified, have an EnerGuide Rating of 77, or be built by a member of a CMHC-eligible energy-efficient building program. For a Renovation, the pre and post renovation EnerGuide Evaluation must show at least a 5 point improvement, and have a minimum point total of 40.
Application procedure
For a new purchase:
1. Ensure home is rated (EnerGuide or R2000)
2. Talk to your lender and ask for a CMHC insured mortgage.
3. Download & send the CMHC form
For renovations:
1. Get EnerGuide for Homes Evaluation
2. Do renovations.
3. Get post-reno evaluation to show 5 point EnerGuide Improvement, and total of EnerGuide 40.
4. Download & send the CMHC form
5. If refinancing, ask for 35 year amortization for refinanced portion of the mortgage, while the previous loan amount remains at 25 years, resulting in a blended payment amount.
1. Ensure home is rated (EnerGuide or R2000)
2. Talk to your lender and ask for a CMHC insured mortgage.
3. Download & send the CMHC form
For renovations:
1. Get EnerGuide for Homes Evaluation
2. Do renovations.
3. Get post-reno evaluation to show 5 point EnerGuide Improvement, and total of EnerGuide 40.
4. Download & send the CMHC form
5. If refinancing, ask for 35 year amortization for refinanced portion of the mortgage, while the previous loan amount remains at 25 years, resulting in a blended payment amount.
Contact information
Telephone:
(604) 731-5733
If 5% down payment, insurance premium is 2.75% of loan amount. If 10% down, then premium is 2%. Scenario: with 10% down and a mortgage of $300,000, then a 2% insurance premium would be $6,000 per year, and then the efficiency program saves you $600 per year.
Accelerated Capital Cost Allowance for Efficient and Renewable Energy Generation Equipment
Program offers financial incentives and/or tax measures to promote efficient use of fossil fuels in industry, as well as altenative energy, including:
- Active Solar & Photovoltaics
- Energy from Waste
- Geothermal
- Hydrogen
- Wind
- Biomass
- Small Hydro
Sponsoring agency:
Office of Energy Efficiency, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)
Type of agency:
Federal government
Eligibility
Application deadline
Program ends January 2012
Contact information
Telephone:
(800) 267-6999
BC Hydro Product Incentive Program
With the Product Incentive Program your business, strata, non-profit, or place of worship will save money, improve the work environment, and contribute to environmental sustainability.
Sponsoring agency:
BC Hydro
Type of agency:
Utility company
Eligibility
To be eligible for the Product Incentive Program, you must be:
- a BC Hydro business customer who spends less than $200,000 annually on electricity and who does not have a key account manager, or
- a BC Hydro residential strata (for common areas only)
Application procedure
Visit the BC Hydro Product Incentive Program website for details, or call 604 522 4713 (Lower Mainland) or toll-free 1 866 522 4713
Contact information
Website:
BC Hydro Product Incentive Program
BC Hydro Power Smart Fridge Buy-Back Program
Your energy guzzling spare fridge could be costing you up to $100 a year to operate. BC Hydro will remove it for you - and give you $30.
Sponsoring agency:
BC Hydro
Type of agency:
Eligibility
Application procedure
Call 604 881 4357, or 1 866 516 4357 outside the Lower Mainland, to pick up and recycle your old second fridge.
Contact information
Website:
BC Hydro Fridge Buy-Back Program
CMHC Proposal Development Funding
Loans of up to $100,000 are available for affordable housing [PDF 124 Kb] project proposals by non-profit or private sector proponents who can demonstrate that their intended housing project is affordable.
Sponsoring agency:
Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)
Type of agency:
Federal government
Eligibility
PDF loans will be made available to any proponent who can demonstrate that their proposed housing project will be affordable, including:
- A not-for-profit organization
- A housing cooperative
- A First Nation
- A private entrepreneur
- any other housing proponents who can demonstrate their ability to produce a viable affordable housing project which meets CMHC's criteria
- the project must have at least five (5) housing units.
- the majority of units in a rental project must be below CMHC's Level 1 or Level 2 rent limits for units of a similar type, size, and number of bedrooms in the subject housing market.
- the sale price of homeowner units must be below the market value for similar housing.
- units - whether rental or homeowner - must be modest in size and design
- there must be a demonstrated need for the proposed housing project
- an initial viability analysis must demonstrate how the housing will be produced to meet CMHC's definition of affordability
Application procedure
Application Procedure You will be asked to provide a comprehensive description of your affordable housing project proposal, along with confirmation of need and demand for the planned housing. You will also be expected to provide a preliminary viability analysis to demonstrate how the housing produced will meet CMHC's affordability criteria. A CMHC Affordable Housing Centre Representative can help you with the application. An application package [PDF 332 Kb] can be downloaded or to obtain a printed copy at your local CMHC office.
Contact information
Telephone:
1-800-668-2642
Website:
Proposal Development Funding (PDF)
CMHC On-Reserve Housing — Retrofit Initiative
The CMHC is offering up to a maximum of $28,000 per unit in Southern Areas, $32,000 per unit in Northern Areas, and $40,000 per unit in the Far North
Funding can be used for energy efficiency retrofits, modification to provide support for persons with disabilities, additions of bedrooms or secondary suites to address overcrowding, and regeneration of physically or functionally obsolete units/buildings.
Sponsoring agency:
Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)
Type of agency:
Federal government
Eligibility
First Nations that have federally funded and administered social housing projects that are currently subject to and in compliance with, an operating agreement with CMHC under a National Housing Act social housing program are eligible to apply.<\P>
Applicants must have the capacity to undertake the work within a short time frame despite other construction projects, planned or on-going and must meet all other eligibility criteria. Work must commence within three months of approval failing which CMHC may cancel the commitment at its sole discretion. Where retrofits or renovation work is undertaken, work and components would be required to be result in the unit meeting Provincial energy efficiency standards, based on the age of the building. However, repairs will not be required to result in a specific overall energy rating.
Restrictions
Contact CMHC for details.
Application procedure
See the Application Guide and Form document provided by the CMHC for further details about eligibility, then complete the Form section of the document and send via mail or fax.
Applications will be approved by CMHC taking into account the timing of receipt of the application and the timeline for commencement and completion of the renovation and retrofit work. CMHC will also work to encourage fair and equitable access to available funds.
The selection criteria include:
- articulated strategy for moving from commitment to work commencement within 3 months (steps and milestones)
- the track record of the applicant, including whether prior repair and renovation work was started and completed in a timely manner, and the overall management record of the First Nation
- demonstrated need for the renovation work
- availability/assessment of labour within the First Nation territory
If you are advised in writing that your application has been selected for further consideration, firm price contractor bids or detailed cost estimates (where First Nation resources are being utilized) must be provided based on inspection and/or specifications provided by qualified professionals and submitted to CMHC within 30 days.
Advances for completed work will be verified by inspection, invoice or certified professional, as indicated in the Letter of Commitment, to confirm completion of the work. Progress advances will be made where deemed necessary by CMHC.
Projects which are approved in the 2009-10 fiscal year must be completed by March 31, 2010, and projects which are approved in the 2010-11 fiscal year must be completed by March 31, 2011.
Contact information
Telephone:
1-800-668-2642
Email:
retrofit@cmhc.ca
CMHC On-Reserve Housing — New Construction Initiative
First Nations that have federally funded and administered social housing projects that are currently subject to and in compliance with, an operating agreement with CMHC under a National Housing Act social housing program are eligible to apply.
Applicants must have the capacity to undertake the work within a short time frame despite other construction projects, planned or on-going and must meet all other eligibility criteria. Work must commence within three months of approval failing which CMHC may cancel the commitment at its sole discretion. Where retrofits or renovation work is undertaken, work and components would be required to be result in the unit meeting Provincial energy efficiency standards, based on the age of the building. However, repairs will not be required to result in a specific overall energy rating.
The New Construction Initiative will be delivered like the existing On-Reserve Non-Profit Housing Program but with specific program adjustments. These adjustments are consistent with the requirements established under Canada’s Economic Action Plan to help accelerate the commitment and construction process, as well as to include energy efficiency standards and project visibility requirements.
Sponsoring agency:
Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC
Type of agency:
Federal government
Eligibility
First Nations that have federally funded and administered social housing projects that are currently subject to and in compliance with, an operating agreement with CMHC under a National Housing Act social housing program are eligible to apply.
Applicants must have the capacity to undertake the work within a short time frame despite other construction projects, planned or on-going and must meet all other eligibility criteria. Work must commence within three months of approval failing which CMHC may cancel the commitment at its sole discretion. Where retrofits or renovation work is undertaken, work and components must meet Provincial energy efficiency standards, based on the age of the building. However, repairs will not be required to result in a specific overall energy rating. T
he New Construction Initiative will be delivered like the existing On-Reserve Non-Profit Housing Program but with specific program adjustments. These adjustments are consistent with the requirements established under Canada’s Economic Action Plan to help accelerate the commitment and construction process, as well as to include energy efficiency standards and project visibility requirements.
Application procedure
See the Expression of Interest (EOI Guide and Application [PDF 771]) document provided by the CMHC for further details about eligibility, then complete the Form section of the document and send via mail.
Regional Committees will also consider the overall distribution of funds across First Nations and apply, if so desired, any existing regional criteria by which allocations are normally awarded (e.g. distribution based on population) and then recommend to CMHC proposals to be accepted.
A First Nation must be confirmed by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) to be eligible for a Ministerial Loan Guarantee (MLG) in order for a commitment to be made.
CMHC reviews the submitted proposals for completeness and eligibility. Where an application is found to be incomplete, CMHC will advise the First Nation as to where the deficiencies are and will encourage them to resubmit complete applications by the established deadline. The selection criteria include:
- articulated strategy for moving from commitment to work commencement within 3 months (steps and milestones)
- the track record of the applicant, including whether prior repair and renovation work was started and completed in a timely manner, and the overall management record of the First Nation
- demonstrated need for the renovation work
- Assessment of appropriate labour availability to the First Nation applicant
Upon successful review by CMHC, CMHC will issue a final commitment letter and work on the project must proceed within 3 months of this letter.
Advances for completed work will be verified by inspection, invoice or certified professional, as indicated in the Letter of Commitment, to confirm completion of the work. Progress advances will be made where deemed necessary by CMHC.
Projects which are approved in the 2009-10 fiscal year must be completed by March 31, 2010, and projects which are approved in the 2010-11 fiscal year must be completed by March 31, 2011.
Contact information
Telephone:
1-800-668-2642
Email:
retrofit@cmhc.ca
Home Adaptations for On-Reserve Aboriginal Seniors Independence Program (HASI)
Assistance is a forgivable loan of up to $3,500. The loan does not have to be repaid as long as the homeowner agrees to continue to occupy the unit for the loan forgiveness period, which is six months. If the adaptation work is being done on a rental unit, the landlord must agree that rents will not increase as a result.
The adaptations should be minor items that meet the needs of seniors with an age-related disability. They could be: handrails, easy-to-reach work and storage areas in the kitchen, lever handles on doors, walk-in showers with grab bars, bathtub grab bars and seats.
All adaptations should be permanent and fixed to the dwelling.
Sponsoring agency:
Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC)
Type of agency:
Federal government
Eligibility
Homeowners and landlords may qualify for assistance as long as the occupant of the dwelling where the adaptations will be made meets the following eligibility criteria:
- is 65 and over;
- has difficulty with daily living activities brought on by ageing;
- total household income is at or below a specified limit for your area;
- dwelling unit is a permanent residence.
IMPORTANT: Work carried out before the loan is approved in writing is not eligible for funding under this program.
If your home requires extensive modifications, such as wider doorways and increased space for wheelchair manoeuvring, consult the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program for Persons with Disabilities.
In some areas of Canada, funding for these or similar programs is provided jointly by the Government of Canada, and the provincial or territorial government. In these areas, the provincial or territorial housing agency may be responsible for delivery of the programs. Program variations may also exist in these areas.
Application deadline
This program will continue until further notice.
Application procedure
Please phone 1-800-668-2642 for more information or visit the CHMC website for other contact information
Contact information
Senior’s (and Persons with Disabilities) Rental Housing Program
The Province provides capital funding for the construction of the homes. As housing sites for this initiative must be provincially or municipally-owned, local governments are being asked to consider offering municipally-owned sites for development. BC Housing is also identifying potential properties held by its land holding company, the Provincial Rental Housing Corporation , for the purposes of this initiative.
The coordination the construction of all developments funded through this initiative will be carried out by BC Housing in consultation with partners. The developments will be managed by a local non-profit housing provider. Non-profit operators will be responsible for the day-to-day operations, maintenance and management of the housing. Operating subsidies, if required, will be provided by BC Housing.
All new buildings will be required to meet or exceed energy efficiency requirements, such as the energy performance standard of EnerGuide 80, the use of Energy Star rated products, and an overall reduction in Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions as per the requirements of Bill 44, Greenhouse Gas Reduction Targets Act.
Sponsoring agency:
BC Housing Management Corporation (BCHMC), Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC),
Type of agency:
Federal government
Provincial government
Eligibility
This initiative targets low-income households who are:
- Seniors, defined as single persons age 55 and older or couples where at least one person is aged 55 or older. Persons with disabilities in receipt of a recognized disability pension, or considered disabled for income tax purposes. For couples, one person must meet these criteria.
Application procedure
A Request for Expression of Interest (REOI) will be issued by BC Housing for housing sites where non-profit housing providers have yet to be identified.
The program is an extension of the Affordable Housing Initative (AHI) and is running only 2009-2010.
Contact information
Website:
e: BC Housing SRH Initiative
BC Housing Endowment Fund
The annual investment revenue of approximately $10 million a year will be paid out in keeping with the mandate and purpose of the Housing Endowment Fund.
The fund supports initiatives that:
- have the potential to be replicated elsewhere in the Province of B.C.
- are consistent with Housing Matters BC , the province's housing strategy to help those most in need
- are environmentally sustainable or "green"
- have results that may be achieved quickly
- have low risk of delays or cost overruns
- address the needs of households with low to moderate incomes
- support other government objectives
- involve logical partnerships, and
- have significant financial contributions from others, such as local government, government agencies, private and non-profit sectors, and community organizations
Sponsoring agency:
BC Housing Management Corporation (BCHMC)
Type of agency:
Provincial government
Eligibility
Application deadline
With the enormous response to the fund, the HEF is now fully subscribed. Consequently, no new proposals are being accepted at this time. We anticipate proposals will be accepted again in January 2010
Application procedure
To find to out more call 604.454.5417, or email HEFAdministrator@bchousing.org
Contact information
Telephone:
604.454.5417
Website:
BC Housing Endowment Fund
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