The Community Housing Infrastructure and Repair Program (CHIRP) is the Department of Growth and Development's repair program for Community Housing organizations (co-op and non-profit housing providers). It supports affordable housing units in the co-op and non-profit sector by offering forgivable loans to fund necessary capital repairs to existing residential buildings.

DGD will fund up to 100% of the cost of eligible repairs to ensure that organizations can continue to offer affordable housing for low-income households.

Program Objectives:

• Stabilize and preserve community housing assets to ensure organizations continue to offer affordable rents to low-income households
• Assist community housing organizations to undertake transformation projects supporting long-term financial sustainability
• Strengthen organizational and governance capacity to ensure long-term sustainability of the community housing sector and set the stage for growth

Eligible Repairs:

• Structural, electrical, plumbing, heating, fire safety
• Energy efficiency/conservation costs (not covered by other sources)
• Accessibility/barrier-free adaptations (not covered by other sources)
• Health and safety repairs
• Replacement of kitchens, bathrooms, flooring (with DGD approval)
• Restoration of uninhabitable units

Other Eligible Costs:

• Associated legal fees including migration costs
• Project management fees (professional project management required)
• Property management fees related to CHIRP project
• Energy audit fees
• Environmental assessments and studies related to eligible repairs
• Other costs approved in advance by DGD

Ineligible Repairs:

• Work carried out prior to loan approval
• Repairs to commercial components
• Purchase of appliances
• Purchase of/repairs to outbuildings (sheds)
• Soft landscaping that is cosmetic rather than structural