Canada announces funding for new homes in Yorkton

On Oct. 16, the Government of Canada, Yorkton Parkland Housing Society and Yellow Quill First Nation announced more than $5.6 million through the Affordable Housing Fund and Rapid Housing Initiative to build and repair 60 secure rental homes in Yorkton, Saskatchewan, and on Yellow Quill First Nation. The funding comprises $1.9 million to repair 50 units owned and operated by Yorkton Parkland Housing Society, with work expected to finish in 2028, and $2.5 million for 10 new single-family homes for Yellow Quill First Nation members living on reserve. Those homes were completed in 2024 and residents have moved in. The Yellow Quill project also received $1 million from Indigenous Services Canada and $85,000 in cash equity from the First Nation.

The announcement was made by Gregor Robertson, Minister of Housing and Infrastructure and Minister responsible for Pacific Economic Development Canada, with Yorkton Mayor Aaron Kienle and Sharon Green, chairperson of Yorkton Parkland Housing Society. Robertson said the investments will help individuals and families access quality housing that meets their needs, while repairs and new housing opportunities strengthen communities across Saskatchewan. Buckley Belanger, Secretary of State for Rural Development, said communities in southeastern Saskatchewan and their housing and infrastructure needs are growing; he described the funding as a commitment to work with communities on local priorities. Kienle said the need for affordable housing in Yorkton and the region is significant, and that the investments can provide residents with greater stability and opportunity.

The federal government says its housing investments are intended to strengthen Canadian supply chains and create jobs throughout the homebuilding process. It has launched Build Canada Homes to increase the pace of affordable homebuilding. The initiative also works with provinces, territories, municipalities and Indigenous communities on transitional and supportive housing to address homelessness, builds deeply affordable and community housing for low-income households, and partners with private developers on affordable homes for middle-income Canadians. The government says responding to the housing crisis requires reducing costs and red tape and building homes more quickly, with investment across the housing continuum to meet community needs.

The Affordable Housing Fund provided low-interest and/or forgivable loans or contributions to partner organizations for new affordable housing and renovations or repairs to existing affordable and community housing. The $16.1-billion National Housing Strategy program prioritized people most in need, including women and children fleeing family violence, seniors, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, people with mental health or addiction issues, Veterans and young adults. Its application portal is now closed because all funding has been committed. As of June 2026, the federal government had committed $15.83 billion through the fund to support the creation of more than 61,922 units and repairs to more than 173,560 units. On Sept. 19, 2025, it announced a $1.5-billion loan top-up for the fund’s New Construction Stream to support more than 5,000 new units starting in 2025-26. The fund’s Rapid Housing Sub-Stream will also be accelerated by drawing $385 million from future years.

The Rapid Housing Initiative was delivered by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation under the National Housing Strategy. It funded rapid construction and the acquisition of existing buildings for rehabilitation or conversion into permanent affordable housing. Its third phase, launched in 2022, exceeded its targets. More than 5,200 new homes are expected from that phase, almost half for women and one-third for Indigenous Peoples; the total number of units created with support from the initiative is expected to exceed 16,000. The program is now closed. It takes a human rights-based approach and serves people experiencing or at risk of homelessness and other vulnerable people, including women and children fleeing domestic violence, seniors, young adults, Indigenous Peoples, people with disabilities, people experiencing mental health or addiction issues, Veterans, 2SLGBTQI+ people, racialized groups, and recent immigrants or refugees.

The federal funding breakdown is $1.9 million for Yorkton Parkland Housing Society through the Affordable Housing Fund, and $2.5 million for Yellow Quill First Nation through the Rapid Housing Initiative. Yellow Quill First Nation also received $1 million from Indigenous Services Canada and contributed $85,000 in cash equity.

The Government of Canada’s housing information is available at canada.ca/housing. Build Canada Homes is seeking partnerships with organizations committed to increasing affordable housing supply across Canada; information about its portal and Investment Policy Framework is available on the government website.