Launched in 2015, the Sustainable Housing Initiative (SHI) is a division within the Rural Development Network (RDN) dedicated to the development of cost-effective, innovative, and sustainable housing within rural communities across Canada.

PURPOSE

The Sustainable Housing Initiative (SHI) was created in 2015 by the Rural Development Network (RDN) to create a model to develop affordable housing in rural communities. Today, SHI has developed a guide to build affordable housing and provides consulting services tailored to the unique needs of rural communities so that financially sustainable affordable housing can be developed.

We are Affordable Housing Pre-Development Experts

Rural Canada has a critical shortage of affordable housing options but it hasn’t received the same attention as urban centers. Without affordable housing, many small communities cannot prevent homelessness or help people through the housing continuum. In addition to providing community members with a safe and adequate place to live, affordable housing also strengthens social inclusion and promotes a sense of community.

The Rural Development Network (RDN) developed the Sustainable Housing Initiative (SHI) in 2015 to address the need for affordable housing in rural communities.

Since its inception, the SHI has far exceeded its original goals by raising more than $30 million in capital investments for affordable housing. Our core strength is to help rural communities access funding to develop cost-effective,innovative and sustainable housing through a proven and streamlined process. 

The SHI works with rural communities using a proven three-phased approach to obtain funding at a fraction of the cost, ensuring that affordable housing is achievable for everyone. Our approach supports rural communities in their efforts to build affordable housing that is financially sustainable. The SHI is committed to being stewards of affordable housing in Canada and would strive to ensure that your project is both successful and sustainable while retaining investor's best interests.

Our team of multi-faceted professionals will assist in the pre-development of your affordable housing project that is tailored to the unique needs of your community and help you access funding for the project, on a cost-recovery basis.