Executive summary

The federal government along with provinces and territories (PTs) partnered on a multilateral framework and bilateral funding agreements as part of the National Housing Strategy (NHS), which launched in 2017. The NHS provides a federal funding commitment for 10 years from 2018–2019 to 2027–2028 and sets the strategic framework for federal, provincial and territorial governments to work together to achieve better housing solutions across the housing continuum.

PTs cost-share and deliver some NHS initiatives and the federal government provides funding to PTs for the initiatives they co-fund and deliver. Ontario and the federal government signed a Bilateral Agreement in April 2018 to implement the NHS. The Agreement requires Ontario to develop and submit an Action Plan to the federal government every 3 years that lays out how the province intends to use federal and cost-matched funding to meet the targets and outcomes agreed to with the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

This 2025–2026, 2026–2027 and 2027–2028 Action Plan builds on the achievements of the previous plans. The final 3–year action plan prioritizes new rent-assisted units and ensures that Ontario will meet its NHS targets, including the 15% expansion of rent-assisted unit target.

Ontario’s Action Plan is operationalized through 3 provincially delivered NHS initiatives:

  • Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative (COCHI)
  • Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI)
  • Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB)

The current overall program design and objectives of these 3 initiatives will be maintained for the 2025–2026, 2026–2027 and 2027–2028 fiscal years, with some adjustments to ensure Ontario meets its rent-assisted unit target.

Key highlights of this 3–year Action Plan are as follows:

  • A description of the housing challenges faced by Ontario related to affordability, supply, and supportive housing.
  • Details on how Ontario is addressing these housing challenges through various priorities including Ontario’s market housing supply initiatives (and associated legislation), and programs such as the Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) and Indigenous Supportive Housing Program (ISHP).
  • Additional details regarding Ontario’s plan to increase rent-assisted units.