Kitchener earns $8 million from the Building Faster Fund for third consecutive year of housing target achievement

The City of Kitchener will receive $8,013,600 from the Government of Ontario through the Building Faster Fund (BFF), following last week’s announcement at Kitchener City Hall.  Mayor Berry Vrbanovic and members of City Council welcomed the Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Matthew Rae, and local MPPs, the Hon. Mike Harris and Jess Dixon, to make the announcement.

The funding recognizes Kitchener’s 2025 housing performance, which included 2,516 housing starts and 489 additional residential units (ARUs), for a total of 3,005 new homes added to the city’s housing supply.

Kitchener has been a recipient of the Building Faster Fund in all three years of the program - reflecting consistent, strong progress toward provincial housing targets. This accomplishment demonstrates Kitchener’s commitment to unlocking more housing, streamlining development approvals, removing barriers, and accelerating planning in support of the Province’s efforts to build more homes, smarter and faster.  

“Kitchener continues to show strong leadership in tackling the housing crisis by getting more homes built,” said Mayor Berry Vrbanovic. “This funding helps us deliver more housing options for residents and create complete, connected communities where people can live, work and thrive. Receiving support in all three years of the program reflects the dedication of Council, staff and our community partners to accelerating housing, and we are grateful to the Province for this continued investment, building Kitchener together and protecting Ontario’s economy.”

“Congratulations to the City of Kitchener for your efforts to get shovels in the ground,” said Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Rob Flack. “In addition to the Building Faster Fund, our government continues to support municipalities in increasing their housing supply through measures like the expansion of the HST rebate and the recently announced Development Charge Reduction Program.”

Announced in 2023, the Building Faster Fund is a three-year, up to $1.2 billion program that helps municipalities build more homes faster. The fund rewards municipalities that achieve at least 80 per cent of their provincially designated annual housing targets by providing funding for the infrastructure needed to support new housing and growing communities.

In March 2023, Kitchener City Council unanimously approved a housing pledge to support the creation of 35,000 new homes by 2031, committing to actions that unlock supply, streamline approvals, and accelerate development.

Kitchener has consistently met or exceeded the funding threshold:

• 2023: 3,579 housing starts (139% of target); $14,000,000 in funding
• 2024: 3,067 housing starts (105.1% of target); $10,292,800 in funding
• 2025: 3,005 housing starts (85.8% of target); $8,013,600 in funding

Despite broader economic pressures and a regional water capacity constraint, Kitchener has maintained momentum in delivering new housing and advancing its long-term housing pledge.

This marks the final round of funding under the Building Faster Fund, with municipalities able to invest funding through to March 31, 2028.

The City of Kitchener will continue working with provincial and federal partners to ensure our growing community has the infrastructure, tools and support needed to accelerate housing - and to help build a more resilient city and a stronger Ontario.

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