City of Kitchener announces next phase of affordable homeownership project supported by Housing Accelerator Fund

The City of Kitchener is celebrating a major step forward toward delivering its affordable housing targets.  

In April 2024, the City donated a parcel of land at River Road East and Ottawa Street North.  Valued at approximately $5.5 million, the land was earmarked for a homeownership project in partnership with Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region in support of BUILD NOW: Waterloo Region, an initiative aimed to create 10,000 affordable and attainable homes across the region by 2030.  

This project has received all required approvals and funding. It is now ready for construction, with groundbreaking expected later this year.   

“Moving forward with a project like Build Now Holborn Court is the kind of innovative, collaborative project that becomes possible when all three orders of government and community partners work together,” said Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic. “This project is putting city-owned lands to work to deliver real, made-in-Kitchener solutions to empower residents to achieve their dream of homeownership in our community.” 

The announcement highlights continued progress under the federal Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) and the City’s Housing for All strategy, demonstrating how local and federal investments are working together to deliver real housing solutions. In both 2023 and 2025, the City received a total of 46.6 million in funding through the Government of Canada that has made projects like Build Now Holborn Court possible.   

“Our government is proud to support community-driven projects with the Housing Accelerator Fund,” said Tim Louis, Member of Parliament for Kitchener – Conestoga. “By putting public land to use and partnering with organizations like Habitat for Humanity, this project will deliver real, attainable homeownership opportunities for families while helping to build our communities in Kitchener-Conestoga and the Waterloo Region.”  

To meet a range of housing needs, more than 60 affordable homes will be built, spanning from studios to four-bedroom units. 

Homes built through Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region are designed to support long-term affordability and stability. Units will be sold to income-qualified households, with measures in place to ensure they remain affordable over time, even if ownership changes. Kitchener has also committed to waiving certain development-related fees, helping to reduce costs and ensure homes remain affordable for qualifying families. 

“Solving the housing crisis requires all of us to work together,” shared Philip Mills, CEO of Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region. “This project shows what’s possible when governments and community partners share a common goal. We’re proud to see the BUILD NOW project moving from vision into construction, bringing us one step closer to welcoming families home.” 

Preliminary construction on the project is expected to begin in Fall 2026, with completion scheduled for late 2028. 

Visit the City of Kitchener’s website to learn more about the Housing For All strategy. 

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For more information:  
Corporate Communications and Marketing  
City of Kitchener  
Media@kitchener.ca