In September 2025, Build Canada Homes (BCH) was launched as a major federal step toward accelerating affordable housing supply in Canada. Backed by a bold $13 billion capitalization, the announcement came with an even bigger promise: more homes, delivered faster, through new financing models, modern construction, and strategic use of public land.
The reaction across the sector was mixed. There was excitement, some skepticism, and a lot of unanswered questions.
Housing providers wanted clarity:
What actually changes now?
What happens to applications already submitted?
Is CMHC being replaced or restructured?
How will BCH impact timelines?
And who becomes the main point of contact?
At BCNPHA’s Housing Central Conference in Vancouver, these questions finally met the right room.
The conference created space for affordable housing teams to ask the questions Google searches could not answer. It was a rare chance to hear directly from funders, policymakers, and decision-makers about what was true, what is coming next, and what still needs alignment.
As a team that supports housing providers across Canada, being in the room with sector leaders, hearing directly from the Vice President of Build Canada Homes, and listening to housing providers voice their concerns gave us a deeper understanding of the day-to-day realities shaping this work.
If the sessions helped us gain clarity, then we know affordable housing teams across Canada will benefit too. Here is a breakdown of what we heard, what it means, and why it matters.
Why Build Canada Homes Was Created
Let’s zoom out for a moment.
The federal announcement described BCH as something bigger than another funding program.
BCH was built to:
• Address the bottlenecks slowing housing delivery
• Build at scale instead of project by project
• Leverage public land more strategically
• Attract private capital into affordable housing
• Modernize construction through modular and factory-built methods
• Support supportive and transitional housing
• Increase deeply affordable and middle-market supply
Unlike CMHC (The Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation Corporation)- which regulates, insures mortgages, and administers existing funds, Build Canada Homes is meant to build. To remove barriers. To mobilize portfolios. And to accelerate timelines, not just approve proposals.
That distinction was echoed strongly at BCNPHA’s Housing Central.
The Operational Skepticism
When BCH was announced, many providers feared:
• Existing CMHC applications would be reassigned
• Funding envelopes might shift
• Smaller builds would be sidelined
• No one would know who to call next
The skepticism wasn’t emotional. It was operational. Housing teams have payroll cycles, RFPs, closing dates, consultants, land options, legal holds, and vendors waiting.
Uncertainty is expensive. But when the VP of BCH clarified key points at the conference, the tone in the room shifted from tension to relief.
The Most Important Clarifications
Here is what BCH leaders confirmed.
Active CMHC applications stay with CMHC.
Nothing will be transferred or restarted. No disruption to approvals already underway.
The $13B announced for BCH is new capital.
It is not carved out of existing CMHC or Indigenous housing commitments. This signals expansion, not reshuffling.
Scale will not be defined only by large portfolios.
A 40-unit build in a smaller community can be as meaningful as a 300-unit bundle in a major city.
BCH intends to encourage collaboration, not force it.
Partnerships between non-market providers, landholders, municipalities, and private developers will be supported but not mandated.
Land will be a major accelerator.
With Canada Lands Company now under Housing and Infrastructure, BCH can mobilize public land more quickly.
These clarifications were the turning point of the conference.
The Questions People Asked and the Answers That Helped
- Will CMHC eventually dissolve into BCH?
No. CMHC continues its mandate, especially in lending and insurance. - Should providers wait to apply until BCH formally opens its intake?
No. Keep applying through current channels. Momentum matters. - Will BCH prioritize large national developers?
No. BCH emphasized working with community-based, mission-driven organizations that protect affordability long term.
Will supportive housing be sidelined?
No. Supportive and transitional housing is central to BCH’s mandate.
Where Housing Providers Go From Here
The biggest takeaway wasn’t about funding. It was about timing.
Teams do not need perfect clarity to move forward. They need directional insight and alignment, and we now have more of both.
Over the next year, we expect to see:
• The first wave of portfolio approvals
• Activation of federal land through BCH
• Clearer timelines for direct intake
• More regional partnerships forming
• Pilot builds using modern construction
In simple terms, Build Canada Homes is not replacing something. It is expanding something. It is a shift from incremental progress to structural acceleration.
Housing leaders arrived at BCNPHA’s Housing Central with unanswered questions. They walked out with direction. And sometimes direction is more powerful than certainty.
Collaboration Is What Makes the Difference
Jill Atkey, CEO of BCNPHA, said something at the conference that resonated with everyone:
“We need money, we need people, but more than that, we need partners who can make things easy.”
And she is right. There are many things housing leaders worry about. With the added uncertainty of a shifting federal landscape, the last thing you should stress about is tenant support.
If you ever need support with resident communication, after-hours workflows, or maintenance triage, we are always happy to collaborate with you. At Telelink, we are proud to support the organizations building better systems and stronger communities, one conversation at a time.
About Telelink
Telelink is Canada’s leading answering service partner for Affordable Housing Providers who value resident relationships. Our specialized Property Management division understands the unique needs of housing teams, from maintenance triage to after-hours communication and everything in between.
Our scripting process is built around industry best practices and tailored to your workflow. Every script is designed to separate urgent from non-urgent calls while capturing every critical detail and minimizing internal follow-ups.
The result is less stress for staff and a smoother experience for tenants.
Want to see how housing providers are streamlining maintenance and improving tenant satisfaction? Check out one of our Property Management case studies or download our Maximizing Maintenance Workflows guide.
Inside the guide, you’ll find real examples, a simple triage checklist, and practical strategies to reduce after-hours stress, protect your assets, and keep tenants happy while controlling costs.