CGAH stands for Canada Greener Affordable Housing, a Government of Canada program designed to help affordable housing providers improve the energy performance and environmental efficiency of existing multi-unit residential buildings. Administered by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), the program provides financial support for deep energy retrofits while helping preserve and improve affordable housing.
The program was launched in 2023 as part of Canada’s broader efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve building performance, and move toward the country’s long-term climate objectives. Rather than focusing on individual homeowners, CGAH is aimed at organizations and governments responsible for affordable and community housing.
What Is CGAH?
The Canada Greener Affordable Housing program provides financial assistance to eligible affordable housing providers undertaking deep energy retrofits on existing multi-unit residential buildings.
A deep energy retrofit is more than a simple upgrade such as replacing a few light fixtures or installing more efficient appliances. It involves a comprehensive improvement of a building’s envelope, mechanical systems, and energy performance.
According to CMHC, eligible CGAH projects are expected to target a 70% reduction in energy consumption and an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared with pre-retrofit performance.
These improvements can involve insulation, air sealing, heating and cooling equipment, hot-water systems, and other building systems that influence energy consumption.
Why Was the CGAH Program Created?
Affordable housing buildings can face significant challenges when it comes to energy efficiency. Older buildings may have outdated heating systems, insufficient insulation, air leakage, inefficient windows, or aging mechanical equipment.
Improving these buildings can have several benefits. More efficient buildings can require less energy to operate, potentially reducing operating expenses for housing providers. At the same time, better insulation and modern building systems can improve indoor comfort and help buildings respond to extreme weather and changing climate conditions.
The CGAH program therefore connects two important objectives: maintaining affordable housing and improving building performance.
CMHC says the program is intended to help community housing providers improve building quality, adapt to climate change and extreme weather, and reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.
Who Can Apply for CGAH?
CGAH is intended for organizations and public bodies with an affordable housing purpose. Eligible applicants have included:
- Community housing providers
- Non-profit housing organizations
- Public housing agencies
- Rental co-operatives
- Indigenous governments and organizations
- Indigenous non-profit housing providers
- Provincial and territorial governments
- Municipal governments
Private-market housing organizations are not eligible under the program’s standard applicant requirements.
Applicants must also demonstrate an affordable housing purpose and a mandate to provide housing to lower-income households or populations in need.
What Buildings Are Eligible?
CGAH focuses on existing multi-unit residential buildings that provide affordable housing.
CMHC’s program materials specify that a project must generally be primarily residential and contain at least five units or beds. Buildings generally need to be at least 20 years old, although flexibility may apply in certain circumstances, particularly for Indigenous, northern, or remote organizations.
Eligible property types can include:
- Affordable rental housing
- Community housing
- Mixed-income rental properties containing affordable housing
- Indigenous community housing
- Shelters
- Transitional housing
- Supportive housing
- Single-room occupancy housing
Mixed-use properties may also qualify, provided that the non-residential component does not exceed the applicable program limit.
What Is a Deep Energy Retrofit?
The central focus of CGAH is the deep energy retrofit, sometimes abbreviated as DER.
Unlike an isolated repair, a deep energy retrofit takes a whole-building approach. The building envelope and major energy-consuming systems are examined together so that improvements work as an integrated system.
Possible retrofit measures can include:
Building Envelope Improvements
The building envelope separates the interior from the outside environment. Improvements may include:
- Additional insulation
- Air sealing
- Improvements to walls and roofs
- Window upgrades
- Door improvements
- Other measures that reduce heat loss and air leakage
Improving the envelope can reduce the amount of energy required to heat or cool a building.
Heating and Cooling Upgrades
Older heating and cooling equipment can consume significant amounts of energy. Retrofit projects may therefore incorporate high-efficiency heating and cooling systems designed to reduce energy consumption.
Hot-Water System Improvements
Domestic hot-water systems can also contribute substantially to a building’s energy use. Upgrading these systems can form part of a broader energy-efficiency strategy.
Building-System Improvements
A deep retrofit can involve multiple interconnected systems rather than focusing on one individual component. The goal is to achieve substantial overall improvements in energy performance and emissions.
These measures can also contribute to improved building durability, occupant comfort, and indoor air quality.
CGAH Pre-Retrofit Funding
CGAH has included two distinct funding opportunities: Pre-Retrofit Funding and Retrofit Funding.
Pre-Retrofit Funding helps eligible applicants complete the technical work required to prepare for a deep energy retrofit.
This can include activities such as:
- Energy audits
- Energy modelling studies
- Building condition assessments
- Other planning and preparation activities required for a retrofit application
CMHC explains that these activities need to be completed before applying for Retrofit Funding.
The purpose is to help housing providers understand the current condition and energy performance of their buildings before determining the most appropriate retrofit measures.
CGAH Retrofit Funding
Once the necessary pre-retrofit assessments have been completed, eligible applicants can pursue funding for the actual construction and implementation of deep energy retrofits.
CGAH Retrofit Funding provides a combination of forgivable and low-interest repayable loans to support eligible retrofit costs.
According to CMHC’s current program information, the program can fund up to 100% of eligible retrofit costs, to a maximum of $170,000 per unit, through the combined financing structure. Forgivable loans can be the lesser of $85,000 per unit or 80% of eligible retrofit costs, with low-interest financing available for the remaining eligible amount.
Pre-retrofit activities have also had a maximum contribution of $130,000 per project.
Affordability Requirements
Because CGAH is specifically designed for affordable housing, participating projects must meet applicable affordability criteria.
A project can qualify through municipal, provincial, territorial, Indigenous government, or CMHC affordability requirements. Other accepted approaches can include rent-geared-to-income arrangements, low- or moderate-income requirements, and established income or rent limits.
This ensures that CGAH funding supports buildings serving households and communities that the program is designed to benefit.
CGAH and Canada’s Climate Goals
Buildings are an important part of Canada’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Existing buildings can remain in service for decades, meaning that improving their energy performance can have long-term environmental and operational benefits.
CGAH was developed in the context of Canada’s objective of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. Its deep retrofit targets are intended to substantially reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from participating affordable housing buildings.
The program also aligns with Canada’s broader green-building efforts, which encourage improvements to the energy efficiency and environmental performance of buildings.
Benefits of CGAH for Affordable Housing Providers
For housing providers, a deep energy retrofit can provide benefits beyond environmental performance.
Lower Energy Consumption
Reducing the amount of energy required to operate a building can potentially lower ongoing utility expenses.
Better Resident Comfort
Improved insulation, air sealing, heating, and cooling can create more consistent indoor temperatures and improve overall comfort.
Improved Building Performance
A comprehensive retrofit can address multiple aging or inefficient building components at the same time.
Climate Resilience
Building upgrades can help properties better withstand changing weather conditions and extreme events.
Longer Building Lifespans
Modernizing building systems and addressing deficiencies can contribute to improved durability and continued use of existing affordable housing stock.
Reduced Greenhouse Gas Emissions
The program’s retrofit targets are specifically designed to produce significant reductions in energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
Is the CGAH Program Still Open?
As of 2026, the CGAH application portal is closed to new applications because the program has received sufficient applications to fully commit its budget. CMHC currently states that existing applications submitted by the deadline will continue to be reviewed and processed.
Natural Resources Canada likewise lists the Canada Greener Affordable Housing program as closed to applications, noting that January 20, 2026 was the final application date and that applications submitted by the deadline continue to be processed.
This status is important for organizations researching CGAH today. While the program remains relevant as a model for financing deep energy retrofits in affordable housing, organizations should check current CMHC and Government of Canada information before assuming that new applications are being accepted.
CGAH and the Future of Affordable Housing
Programs such as CGAH demonstrate how affordable housing and building sustainability can be addressed together. Existing affordable housing does not necessarily need to be replaced to improve its environmental performance. In many cases, significant improvements can be achieved by upgrading the buildings that already serve communities.
Deep energy retrofits can also help housing providers think beyond short-term repairs. By examining insulation, air leakage, heating, cooling, hot water, and other systems together, providers can develop a more comprehensive plan for improving building performance.
The financial support provided through programs such as CGAH is particularly relevant because deep retrofits can require substantial upfront investment. Forgivable and low-interest financing can help make large-scale improvements more financially manageable for eligible affordable housing providers.
Conclusion
CGAH, or Canada Greener Affordable Housing, is a Canadian program focused on helping affordable housing providers carry out deep energy retrofits in existing multi-unit residential buildings.
Through pre-retrofit contributions and retrofit financing, the program has supported planning and major building improvements designed to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Eligible projects generally involve affordable housing buildings with at least five units or beds, while retrofit projects are expected to achieve substantial energy and emissions reductions.
Although the CGAH application portal is currently closed to new applications, the program remains an important part of Canada’s approach to improving the environmental performance, resilience, and long-term sustainability of affordable housing. For organizations with existing applications, CMHC remains the key source for program requirements, processing information, and updates.