The City Plan provides direction for how Edmonton will grow to a city of 2 million people while keeping its current boundary. To do that, the redeveloping area will need to welcome 600,000 new residents in about 200,000 homes (based on the projected City Plan Scenario and if development follows the land use vision of the City Plan). For comparison, there are about 395,000 homes in all of Edmonton today.
Vibrant Communities. Thriving small businesses. A better future.
More housing makes it possible.
More housing doesn’t just mean more buildings. It means more homes, more neighbours, and more opportunities for communities to thrive.
The City believes all Edmontonians should be able to find the housing they need in the neighbourhoods they love. To create a city with housing for everyone, we need to welcome homes everywhere.
Housing in Edmonton
There are many different types of housing in our city. Housing can refer to the built form, whether it is a single-detached home or an apartment tower. It can be owned, rented at market rates or rented below market. Learn more by downloading the housing spectrum.
Affordable Housing
Affordable housing is operated, funded, or created with government subsidies.
It is offered at below-market rents for households that earn less than the median income for their household size. There are different types of affordable housing to meet different needs:
- Social housing: rent-geared-to-income for very low to low-income households
- Non-market affordable rentals: Shallow subsidy (less than 80% market rent) and deep subsidy (less than 50% market rent) for moderate-income households
- Near-market affordable rentals: 80-90% market rent for moderate-income households
Who lives in affordable housing?
Affordable housing providers have their own application processes. Typically, anyone over 18 can apply to live in affordable housing if they are low income and capable of living independently.
Those applying need to provide proof of income and a letter of reference (typically from a landlord). To learn more about available options and eligibility, visit How to Access Housing.
Residential Infill
Residential infill is the net new addition of housing in an area that has already been developed, like an established neighbourhood.
Infill comes in different shapes and sizes. It can be the replacement of one single detached home with another. It can also be the replacement of a single detached home with two single detached homes, semi-detached homes, triplexes and fourplexes and row housing.
Supportive Housing
Supportive housing is a type of affordable housing for very low to low-income individuals or households that require on-site support services to live independently. Residents sign a lease and pay rent, while also receiving financial help, support with life skills, and support services for health and wellness.
Every supportive housing program is unique. Each one is designed to meet the specific needs of the people who live there.
Staff may include medical professionals, psychologists, social workers, and support staff who help with tasks like grocery shopping, accessing transportation, and applying for income assistance and other government programs.
No matter the time of day, staff are always on site.
Who lives in supportive housing?
Like everyone in our communities, people who live in supportive housing are looking for a home to call their own. They can be referred to supportive housing based on the kind of support they need, like medical support, disability services, mental health and addictions support, and other challenges.
Homeward Trust works with Alberta Health Services and supportive housing operators to manage resident referrals, and help place people where they will find the support services they need. To learn more about housing options, visit How to Access Housing.
Greenfield Development
Greenfield development refers to housing built on land that has not yet been developed for any purpose. Edmonton’s greenfield is located on the outer edges of the city.
Edmonton’s Housing Gaps
Residential Infill
Affordable Housing
The City’s Housing Needs Assessment gives the most up-to-date information on households that need affordable housing. About one in eight households (46,155 households) are in “core housing need”, which means they pay more than 30% of before-tax household income on housing, live in unsafe or crowded homes, and can’t afford any other suitable housing.
According to the Affordable Housing Strategy, Edmonton will need 3,800 units of social housing, 30,200 units of non-market affordable housing and 5,700 units of near-market affordable housing by 2050. More urgently, Edmonton needs at least 1,700 units of supportive housing to help respond to homelessness.
Rental Housing
According to the 2021 census, Edmonton had 143,000 renter households and a supply of 78,000 purpose-built rental units.
Marilyn found community in supportive housing for Indigenous elders and families.
Infill housing helped revitalize Cara’s community and local elementary school.
Barry finds purpose in taking care of his home in supportive housing.
Misha formed a good relationship with the builder who developed a new triplex next door.
Angela lives in affordable housing, her first home with its own backyard.
Romeo’s small business is a big part of neighbourhood life.
Backyard housing allows Deb to live near her daughter, son-in-law and grandson.
Property Values
Residential real estate values are driven by local and global economic factors. At the local level, the factors that impact your property value include things like location, lot characteristics such as size, shape or corner lot, along with how close it is to commercial areas, transit, utilities and green space.
Community Safety
Residents, staff and neighbours of affordable and supportive housing all have a shared interest in maintaining a safe environment. There is no evidence to suggest the introduction of new affordable and supportive housing affects neighbourhood crime rates.
See Civida Fact Sheet.
If you have concerns about safety in your neighbourhood, the Neighbourhood Empowerment Team can help.