Community Housing
Welcome to Community Housing – a program designed to help families afford stable, comfortable homes at below-market rates. Through this initiative, we offer a range of rental units across Red Deer, Innisfail, and Sylvan Lake, with rent based on 30% of your family’s income, including heat and water.
Read on to learn about eligibility, housing types, and how we prioritize families in need through our waitlist system.
What is Community Housing?
Community Housing is a program we manage. It’s designed for families who may find it challenging to afford a comfortable home at the current market rates due to their income.
We manage 310 properties spread throughout Red Deer, Innisfail and Sylvan Lake that you would rent from us at a lower than market rate.
For Community Housing, the rent you pay is set at 30% of your total income before taxes, which keeps it affordable. This rent amount already includes the cost of heat and water, but you’ll still need to pay separately for electricity and any setup fees for utilities.
So, in short: Rent = 30% of your income, including heat and water, but you’ll cover electricity on your own.
What type of housing is available?
We have several Community Housing unit options:
➥ 289 in Red Deer
➥ 13 in Innisfail
➥ 7 in Sylvan Lake
This includes duplexes, townhouses, and apartments.
You will be offered the type of unit that will best fit your family’s needs,
following the guidelines set by the government.
Take a Look Inside Our
Community Housing Units!
Frequently Asked Questions
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Am I Eligible for Community Housing?
We prioritize families with dependent children who are living in poor or overcrowded conditions or those who are spending a large part of their income on rent. It’s important to us that we assist those who need it most, following the guidelines set by the government.
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To be eligible for Community Housing, you must:
Have lived or worked in the area for at least the last three months.
Have less than $25,000 in assets, not including personal belongings (household furnishings, clothing, primary vehicle etc.).
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What Happens After You Apply?
Anyone who applies for Community Housing, and is deemed eligible will go on to our waitlist.
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How Our Housing Waitlist Works
The waitlist is a way for us to keep track of people who want to live in our affordable housing. Since we have many people who need homes, we can’t help everyone right away. Your application will go on our waitlist, and we offer you housing when a spot opens up that is the best fit for your family.
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Why We Use a Waitlist
Our waitlist is prioritized based on who needs help the most. We have to manage our limited housing resources carefully to ensure fairness and efficiency.
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How We Prioritize Applications
We look at things like how much money someone makes, their family situation, and other challenges they might face. People who are in the greatest need will have a higher priority on the waitlist.
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Who Gets Help First?
We want to make sure that those who need a home the most get help first! Our goal is to assist the most vulnerable members of our community as quickly as possible
