Green Municipal Fund (GMF): Sustainable Affordable Housing (SAH)
Accepting applications
Deadline Details
SAH has reopened funding on a smaller scale with pre-construction grants for retrofit projects, and will continue to provide capacity development support to help housing providers move their projects forward.
Applications are accepted year-round until all annual funds are allocated. Once all funding is allocated for the year, any new applications are deferred for approval to the following fiscal year, beginning April 1. If your application is deferred, GMF will let you know.
Intake Type
Continuous IntakeFunder
Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)
Funding Organization Type
- Other
Funding Range
- Small (up to $50K)
- Medium ($50K-$250K)
- Large ($250K-$500K)
Eligible Community
- Local Governments
- Indigenous Communities
- Métis Nations
- Modern Treaty Nations
Eligible Project Activities
- Project Feasibility
- Project Planning
The Green Municipal Fund's (GMF) Sustainable Affordable Housing (SAH) initiative was launched in 2020 as a six-year, $300-million program to help not-for-profits, co-ops, and municipalities take on energy-efficiency projects. Since then, the program has supported more than 3,700 units across the country—reducing emissions, lowering operating costs and improving housing quality.
GMF offers pre-construction study grants to support affordable housing providers in Canada who are seeking to undertake deep energy retrofits of existing affordable housing units to reduce their GHG emissions and improve residents’ comfort, affordability and cost certainty.
There are two grants available:
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One-time retrofit study: This funding covers a wide range of activities in the pre-construction stages of one-time deep energy retrofits.
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Retrofit pathway study: This funding positions recipients with a more flexible plan to implement energy efficiency measures over longer timeframes.
About the Green Municipal Fund:
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Canadian municipalities can apply for funding through the Federation of Canadian Municipalities’ (FCM) Green Municipal Fund (GMF) for municipal sustainable projects in the following sectors: Land Use, Transportation, Waste, Forestry, Water and Energy (including in Affordable Housing).
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Grants are available for planning, studies, and pilot projects. Loans are also available for capital projects, and most recipients receive an additional grant of up to 15% of their loan amount.
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FCM’s Green Municipal Fund can also help local governments switch to sustainable practices faster with its resources, peer learning and training activities including webinars, case studies and toolkits.
Eligible Community
Eligible applicants include:
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Canadian municipal governments (e.g., towns, cities, regions, districts, and local boards thereof);
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Canadian municipal corporations or municipal housing/service providers;
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Canadian non-profit, mission-driven affordable housing providers, including cooperatives
An Indigenous community is an eligible lead applicant if they are partnering with a Canadian municipal government on an eligible project, or if they have a shared service agreement with a Canadian municipal government related to municipal infrastructure, climate change or adaptation.
Funding Stacking Restrictions
No
Professional Input Required
No
Other Eligible Communities
Non-governmental Organizations / Not-for-Profits- Non-profit, mission-driven affordable housing providers, including cooperatives
Type of Funding
- Grant
- Loan
Range of Funding Available per Project
- Small (up to $50K)
- Medium ($50K-$250K)
- Large ($250K-$500K)
Description of Funding
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One-time retrofit study: $350,000 maximum award.
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Grants of up to $200,000 for a single building, or up to $350,000 for a portfolio of buildings, to cover up to 80% of your eligible costs. Eligible Indigenous communities may qualify for a grant of up to 100% of eligible costs.
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Retrofit pathway study: $200,000 maximum award.
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Grants of up to $65,000 for a single building, or up to $200,000 for a portfolio of buildings, to cover up to 80% of your eligible costs. Eligible Indigenous communities may qualify for a grant of up to 100% of eligible costs.
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Eligible Costs
EngineeringDesign
Planning
Capital Costs
Staff Costs
Administration Fees
See the Application Guide for Sustainable Affordable Housing to learn about eligible costs.
Ineligible Costs
Land AcquisitionReporting Requirements
Progress reports and final reports
Expected Timeframe for Funding Decision
6 monthsThe average time for a funding decision is four to six months after submission of your full application form.