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Report To: Program Planning Committee
From: Lori Clark, Director of Integrated Social Services
Sherry Frost, Integrated Human Services Manager
Date: September 18, 2025
Re: Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative and Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative and Expansion Target - Issue Report
Purpose
To provide the Board with an update on the 2025–2028 Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative (COCHI) and Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI), and to outline the assigned National Housing Strategy (NHS) rent-assisted target for 2025-26.
Background
The Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board received correspondence from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing on July 18th, 2025, confirming our COCHI and OPHI funding allocations for 2025–26, along with planned allocations for 2026–28.
Each Service Manager has a rent-assisted unit target to support Ontario’s National Housing Strategy (NHS) commitment. The NHS Action Plan confirms Ontario’s commitment of expanding rent-assisted housing by 19,660 units by March 31, 2028—a target that secured federal NHS funding through the duration of the bilateral agreement.
COCHI/OPHI Funding Allocations & Rent-assisted Unit Target
| Program | 2025-26 Confirmed | 2026-27 Planned | 2027-28 Planned |
| Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative (COCHI) | $474,400 | $564,600 | $612,400 |
| Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI) | $176,000 | $131,000 | $49,200 |
| Rent – Assisted Unit Target | 5 |
Investment Plan
The Ministry requires Service Managers to forecast the number of households served in each target group through both COCHI and OPHI funding. The identified target groups include:
• Homeless - Recent Immigrants
• Indigenous Peoples - Seniors
• Mental Health/Addiction Issues - Survivors of Domestic Violence
• Persons with Disabilities - Veterans
• Racialized Groups - Young Adults
• Unspecified
The investment plan proposes using the COCHI and OPHI funding to support the current portfolio by offsetting costs for large repairs. In addition, we will be supporting the Native People of Sudbury Development Corporation with roof, siding, and intercom replacements in Espanola.
2025–26 COCHI Projects
| Location | Project | Cost |
| 76 Wellington – Manitowaning | Hot Water Tanks | $ 27,680.00 |
| 76 Wellington – Manitowaning | Baseboard Heaters | $ 38,000.00 |
| 3 Water St. – Gore Bay | Main Electrical Switchgear & Individual Unit Panels | $ 145,000.00 |
| 11 – 80 Pine - Chapleau | Restoration | $ 50,000.00 |
| 25 John St. – St. Charles | Make-Up Air Unit & Fire Panel Replacement | $ 100,000.00 |
| NPSDC | Intercom System, Roof, Siding | $ 90,000.00 |
| Administration Fees | $ 23,720.00 | |
| Total COCHI | $ 474,400.00 |
2025–26 OPHI Projects
| Location | Project | Cost |
| 29 Nixon – Mindemoya | Main Electrical Switchgear & Individual Unit Panels | $ 145,000.00 |
| 66 Robinson – Little Current | Baseboard Heaters | $ 22,200.00 |
| Administration Fees | $ 8,800.00 | |
| Total OPHI | $ 176,000.00 |
Rent-Assisted Target Plan
We will achieve our assigned NHS target for 2025–26 through Fielding Place, which was developed using Social Services Relief Funding and OPHI funding.
Conclusion
This plan ensures critical upgrades to our housing portfolio while also positioning the DSB to meet its NHS rent-assisted unit target of 5 units for 2025–26, thereby contributing to Ontario’s broader housing expansion commitment of 19,660 units by 2028.
Staff recommend the Board approve the COCHI–OPHI Investment Plan totaling $650,400 for 2025–26 and direct staff to submit to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.