The Missing Middle and Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan (CIP)

The Missing Middle and Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan (CIP) is a new initiative designed to remove financial barriers to building missing middle and affordable housing in Kitchener.

On this page:

1. Information Sessions
2. Additional Dwelling Unit Grant
3. Missing Middle Affordable Housing Grant
4. Eligibility requirements
5. Evaluating projects
6. Application Process
7. Resources

Funded through the federal Housing Accelerator Fund, the Missing Middle and Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan (CIP) aims to:

• enable at least 98 new units by October 2026 and 500 units over 10 years.
• support diverse housing types, from Additional Dwelling Units (ADUs) to mid-rise apartments.
• prioritize projects near rapid transit and those serving priority housing needs.

Grants are available in two streams:

• Additional Dwelling Units Grant
• Missing Middle and Affordable Housing Grant

Information sessions

Join us for an information webinar where you can learn more about these programs and ask questions of City staff.

• • ADU Grant information session: 1-2 p.m. on Wednesday, January 28 via Zoom - click here.
  • Missing Middle Affordable Housing Grant information session: 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. Friday, January 30, via Zoom - click here.

Additional Dwelling Unit Grant

The aim of the Additional Dwelling Unit Grant is to encourage property owners to build more additional dwelling units (ADU) on their property.

What types of units qualify?

This grant is available for proposed attached or detached ADUs associated with a single detached dwelling, semi-detached dwelling or streetfronting townhouse dwelling.

Commonly called backyard homes, duplexes, triplexes or fourplexes - in total, there can be up to four units on a property that can either be newly built or conversions.

Learn more about building ADUs here.

How much can I receive?

This program offers grants to cover all or a portion of the development charges associated with your new ADU(s). 

Grants for the first and second ADU (the second and third unit) cover 100% of the cost of applicable education (school board) development charges (DCs).​

Grants for the third ADU (which is the fourth unit) cover:

• 50% of City, Regional and education DCs as base incentive; or
• 100% of City, Regional and education DCs for units that commit to: ​
• one affordable housing unit for 5 years; or ​
• 2 energy efficiency measures; or ​
• one barrier-free unit

Refer to the application form for more information.

Missing Middle Affordable Housing Grant

The Missing Middle and Affordable Housing Grant supports developers and non-profits to build new affordable housing in mid-rise formats.

What types of units qualify?

This grant is available for affordable housing units proposed in a multiple dwelling or mixed-use building with a minimum of five units and up to eight storeys in height.

How much can I receive?

The program offers grants to cover pre-construction costs like planning, design, approvals and development charges up to $25,000 per affordable housing unit for a maximum of $500,000 per project.​

Eligibility requirements

Requirements for both streams (refer to the CIP and respective application forms for full details):

• properties in the City of Kitchener
• applies to the creation of new units with building permits issued on or after January 5, 2026
• complete application
• compliance with municipal bylaws and the Ontario Building Code

The Missing Middle Affordable Housing Grant also requires a 25-year commitment for affordable units.

Eligible Applicants

Eligible applicants generally include:

• private developers or property owners;
• non-profit housing organizations; and
• housing co-operatives.

For equitable distribution of funds, the number of qualifying units or properties per applicant may be capped.

Evaluating projects

Projects will be prioritized that:

• are located within 1500 metres of rapid transit​.
• include affordable housing units​.
• plan to achieve building permit issuance by October 31, 2026.

The Missing Middle Affordable Housing Grant also prioritizes:

• affordable units that are a minimum of two bedrooms in size and include a variety of unit sizes, including three and four-bedroom units
• special programs designed to relieve hardship or economic disadvantage by providing affordable units to one or more of the following key priority groups identified in the City’s housing needs assessment:
• women and women led households
• LGBTQ2S+
• seniors 65+
• young adults aged 18 to 29
• indigenous Peoples
• visible minorities/racialized people
• recent immigrants, especially refugees
• people with physical health or mobility challenges or developmental disabilities
• people with mental health and addictions issues
• veterans
• people experiencing homelessness

Application Process

Applications will open on January 19, 2026 and will be reviewed on a first-come basis, while funding is available. To apply for the program:

1. download and complete the applicable application form
• ADU application form
• Missing Middle application form
2. submit by emailing the completed application form and requested documentation to HousingIncentives@kitchener.ca
3. staff will review the application for completeness, alignment for program requirements and priorities.
4. applicants will be notified of the decision 
5. approved applications require an executed agreement prepared by the City before funding is disbursed.

Resources

• Missing Middle and Affordable Housing CIP 
• Affordable Units reference: Affordable Residential Units for the Purposes of the Development Charges Act, 1997 Bulletin - Dataset - Ontario Data Catalogue 

Questions?

Email HousingIncentives@kitchener.ca.