Calgary has released a progress report on its affordable housing strategy

A report presented to Calgary city council shows the city is on pace to implement the recommendations outlined in its affordable housing strategy, which some councilors say no other strategy has ever moved so quickly.

On Wednesday, councilors were presented with a progress report showing where the city is in implementing the strategy approved last year. The update comes as the latest figures show housing and rents are the biggest drivers of inflation in the city.

Calgary approved affordable housing strategy After the council heard the voices of more than 150 people over three days last September. The strategy contained 98 recommendations and set out a path to create 3,000 new non-market homes and help the market with an additional 1,000 homes a year.

The city says that about 80 percent of the actions in the housing strategy will begin by the end of 2024.

“Never before would a corporation with so many employees of this size come together to expedite a decision,” said Ward 8 Coun. Courtney Walcott. “It never happened.”

This, he says, is evidence that people want to see the strategy move forward.

13th district. Dan McLean says he's skeptical of the strategy, which he says will accelerate densification in existing neighborhoods but slow suburban growth.

“We seem to be accelerating growth and building multiplexes in our established communities,” he says. “Slow construction in our outlying settlements. You can find affordable houses there.”

McLean was one of six council members who opposed the overall zoning change Council approved last week. The new rules mean the city's base zoning now allows townhouses or townhouses to be built alongside single-family homes and duplexes in many communities.

Advisors continue to discuss the best options for implementing the strategy moving forward with Coun. Andre Chabot said the report only led to more questions.

“The only way to address the need at the moment is non-market housing,” he says. “With this investment, it's a drop in the bucket when you consider that the private sector is building about $6 billion worth of housing each year to try to address the housing market.”

So far, the city says they have been able to provide city-owned land to secure funding from the federal Housing Acceleration Fund (HAF). The Accelerator Fund is a $4 billion program first announced in the spring 2022 federal budget.

Calgary and the federal government Signed a $228 million deal in November will finance initiatives aimed at increasing the city's housing supply.

The Council's Housing Advisory Committee says it will continue to provide advice and recommendations in the coming days to improve equitable outcomes for safe and affordable housing.