Like other communities across Alberta and Canada, Red Deer is facing a housing crisis. At the same time, Red Deer is positioned for growth. We need to build more places for people to live.
Join the conversation about how we can grow in a way that meets future needs while reflecting our shared values.
What is the Housing Accelerator Fund?
The Government of Canada recently awarded The City of Red Deer $12 million through the Housing Accelerator Fund. This money is intended to help us build homes faster. But there’s one important condition: we must change our zoning regulations to allow up to four housing units on most lots. That means, instead of one big house on a lot, a landowner could choose to build additional suites (such as a basement suite) or smaller units of housing such a duplex, triplex or fourplex.
If adopted, this change won’t happen fast or everywhere. We expect it to be slow and small, a type of change called gentle density. Homeowners would choose if they want to build additional units. All additional units must still follow safety and building rules.
This is one approach to increase housing types in Red Deer, and we want to explore other options with our community.
