Kitchener supports more affordable housing with $500,000 grant to House of Friendship

The City of Kitchener has announced another in a series of affordable housing projects with funding awarded to House of Friendship.

The $500,000 grant will support the Friendship Village project through the City’s Not-for-Profit Affordable and Co-operative Housing Incentive program, making House of Friendship the fourth recipient of this funding. This program is part of a group of initiatives supported through the Federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund.

“Kitchener is committed to Housing for All and we’re thrilled to announce this milestone in the relationship between the Federal Government, City of Kitchener and community partners that is getting more affordable housing built throughout our community,” said Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, “This is the power of partnership in Building Kitchener Together.”

Announced in June 2024, the City of Kitchener is providing a $10,000-per-unit grant to help build more than 500 new not-for-profit affordable housing units. Funding will help cover early project costs for developments that provide not-for-profit supportive, affordable rental or affordable co-op housing units.

“House of Friendship is proud to be a recipient of the City of Kitchener’s Affordable Housing grant,” said John Neufeld, Executive Director, “With these funds we can accelerate the building of Friendship Village, which will see 170 units of affordable and supportive housing, in a community where everyone can belong and thrive.”  

To celebrate the funding, City of Kitchener Councillors joined the House of Friendship’s Executive Director John Neufeld and team to distribute food hampers as part of their Christmas Food Program. 

For more information, contact:

Bethany Rowland 
Director, Corporate Communications & Marketing  
City of Kitchener  
bethany.rowland@kitchener.ca  

Shannon Weber
Chief of Staff 
City of Kitchener
Shannon.weber@kitchener.ca