The agency is designed not only as a funding body but as an operational catalyst capable of directly enabling housing delivery, modernizing construction practices, and strengthening partnerships across all levels of government and the private and non-profit sectors.

Why BCH Was Created

Canada continues to face significant housing shortages, rising construction costs, and growing affordability challenges affecting households nationwide. Traditional project delivery models have struggled to produce housing supply at the pace required.

Build Canada Homes was therefore created to address these challenges through a coordinated federal approach that combines:

• Project financing,

• Housing development capability,

• Public land activation,

• Industrial strategy for construction,

• And partnerships across jurisdictions.

BCH serves as a single federal entry point for affordable and non-market housing development while supporting broader housing system modernization.

Core Mandate

BCH operates under three interrelated objectives forming the foundation of its activities:

1. Deliver Affordable Housing at Scale

BCH finances and enables construction of housing affordable to a wide range of households while ensuring affordability is preserved over the long term.

2. Expand the Non-Market Housing Sector

The agency works to increase the share of housing delivered by:

• Non-profit organizations,

• Housing co-operatives,

• Indigenous housing providers,

• Community housing organizations.

The objective is to build a stronger, scalable sector less dependent on continuous government subsidies.

3. Scale Modern Construction Methods

BCH aims to generate predictable, long-term demand for modern methods of construction, including prefabrication and industrialized construction approaches, allowing industry capacity to grow while reducing project timelines and costs.

Mission and Strategic Direction

BCH’s mission is to rapidly increase Canada’s supply of affordable housing by leveraging public lands, deploying flexible financing tools, and supporting innovation in construction delivery.

The agency works in partnership with:

• Non-profits,

• Indigenous organizations,

• Private developers,

• Financial institutions,

• Provincial, territorial, and municipal governments.

In doing so, BCH seeks to enable faster, smarter, and more affordable housing delivery nationwide.

Additionally, projects supported by BCH are encouraged to strengthen domestic supply chains and prioritize Canadian materials and workforce participation where possible.

How BCH Operates

BCH integrates several operational functions under one federal platform:

Development and Financing

The agency both finances and supports development of housing projects, acting as a catalyst for large-scale project delivery.

National Project Pipeline Creation

BCH actively builds and maintains a pipeline of projects through outreach to governments and industry, intake of project proposals, and collaboration with housing providers.

Flexible Financing Tools

Innovative financing structures are deployed to improve project feasibility and attract additional investment capital.

Leveraging Public Lands

Federal lands are mobilized for housing development, reducing land cost barriers and accelerating delivery.

Partnerships and Procurement

BCH structures partnerships and manages procurement strategies with delivery partners to ensure projects move efficiently from concept to construction.

Support for Industrialized Construction

Modern construction methods—including modular and prefabricated approaches—are promoted to improve productivity and reduce timelines.

Implementation of National Policy Objectives

Projects align with federal priorities, including support for domestic construction capacity and improved housing affordability.

Collaboration Across Government and Industry

BCH operates means collaboration across multiple partners:

Federal Collaboration

The agency works with federal departments and Crown corporations, leveraging expertise in housing finance, infrastructure delivery, and land development.

Provincial and Municipal Governments

Local governments remain critical partners since zoning approvals, permitting, and local housing strategies directly influence project timelines.

Indigenous Partnerships

BCH engages with Indigenous organizations to support Indigenous-led housing projects and better address community housing needs.

Industry and Financial Sector

Developers, housing providers, manufacturers, and financial institutions are engaged to scale delivery and bring private capital into affordable housing.

Funding Scale and Investment Capacity

The federal government has allocated up to $11.5 billion in statutory funding over five years (2025–2030) to support BCH operations and investments.

Funding supports:

• Early housing investments,

• Public land housing development,

• Supportive and transitional housing,

• Partnerships with public developers and delivery organizations,

• Long-term affordable housing supply expansion.

The funding envelope allows BCH to begin project financing rapidly while establishing long-term delivery capacity.

Organizational Structure and Governance

BCH operates as a lean, mission-focused organization led by a Chief Executive Officer accountable through federal governance structures.

The agency’s structure includes teams responsible for:

• Policy and operations,

• Investment strategy,

• Development and partnerships,

• Strategic communications.

Investment decisions are supported by an advisory committee composed of federal housing and infrastructure stakeholders to ensure prudent stewardship of public resources.

The Minister remains accountable to Parliament for BCH activities and funding releases.

Performance Measurement and Accountability

To ensure transparency and effective use of public funds, BCH operates under defined reporting and performance frameworks.

Key accountability measures include:

• Annual reporting through federal departmental reporting systems,

• Performance measurement frameworks guiding operations,

• Financial reporting integrated with federal accounting systems,

• Audit and evaluation processes to review effectiveness and outcomes.

Operational performance data is made available internally to guide decision-making and externally through public reporting channels.

Implications for Developers and Industry

For developers, manufacturers, modular builders, and construction partners, BCH represents a significant new gateway for project financing and partnership opportunities.

Key implications include:

• Expanded opportunities for affordable housing development,

• Increased demand for industrialized construction solutions,

• Federal support for scalable delivery models,

• Greater coordination across jurisdictions,

• New investment channels for housing delivery.

Organizations capable of delivering projects efficiently and at scale—especially those using modern construction methods—stand to benefit from BCH’s project pipeline.

Looking Ahead

BCH currently operates within the federal department as an interim structure but is intended to transition into a future arm’s-length entity serving as Canada’s primary federal platform for affordable and non-market housing delivery.

As this evolution continues, BCH is expected to play a central role in:

• Accelerating national housing supply,

• Supporting construction innovation,

• Strengthening partnerships,

• Delivering housing Canadians can afford.

For industry participants, understanding BCH’s mandate and engagement pathways will become increasingly important as the agency scales operations nationwide.

Source: Government of Canada, Build Canada Homes – Framework Agreement