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Report To: Program Planning Committee
From: Lori Clark, Director of Integrated Social Services
Sherry Frost, Integrated Human Services Manager
Date: June 18, 2026
Re: Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative and Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative and Expansion Target - Issue Report
Strategic Plan Goal 3. Grow with Purpose and Resilience
Objective 3.2. Invest in renewing capital assets and infrastructure across all service areas
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 2026-27.
Background
The Manitoulin-Sudbury District Services Board received correspondence from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing on May 25th, 2026, confirming our COCHI and OPHI funding allocations for 2026–27, along with planned allocations for 2027–28.
Each Service Manager has also been assigned 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 | 2026-27 Confirmed | 2027-28 Planned |
| Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative (COCHI) | $564,600 | $612,400 |
| Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI) | $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:
The investment plan proposes using COCHI funding to support the acquisition of a multi-unit residential property, helping to achieve our National Housing Strategy (NHS) target. The location of the property has not yet been determined and will be selected based on data from the recent Housing Needs Assessment, the By-Name List, Housing and Homelessness Plan, current waitlist data and the availability of suitable real estate opportunities. As of April 719 households are waiting for Manitoulin-Sudbury DSB Community Housing, 65% are in the Lacloche area, 18% on Manitoulin, 8% in Sudbury North and 9% in Sudbury East. Most applicants, 67%, are seeking a one-bedroom unit.
In addition, OPHI funding will be used to support the current housing portfolio by offsetting the cost of electrical upgrades at our Community Housing property in Warren.
2026–27 COCHI Project (Total: $564,600)
| Location | Project | Cost |
| TBD | Acquisition | $ 536,370.00 |
| Administration Fees | $ 28,230.00 | |
| Total COCHI | $ 564,600.00 |
2026–27 OPHI Projects (Total: $131,000)
| Location | Project | Cost |
| 17 Stanhope - Warren | Main Switchgear & Unit Panel replacement | $124,450.00 |
| Administration Fees | $ 6,550.00 | |
| Total OPHI | $131,000.00 |
Rent-Assisted Target Plan
We will achieve our assigned NHS target for 2026–27 through the acquisition, which will be purchased using COCHI funding.
Conclusion
Staff recommend the Board approve the COCHI–OPHI Investment Plan totaling $695,600 for 2026–27 and that it be submitted to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
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 2026–27, thereby contributing to Ontario’s broader housing expansion commitment of 19,660 units by 2028.