Affordable Housing Course
A practical, self-paced course grounded in the Canadian housing system — designed to move projects from concept to delivery.
- Duration: 6 hours
- Effort: 6 hours
- Pace: Self paced
- Languages: English
What you will learn
At the end of this course, you will be able to:
- Understand the full affordable housing development process
- Identify readiness gaps and risks early
- Engage more effectively with funders and consultants
- Contribute meaningfully to housing initiatives
- Apply tools directly to real projects
Description
**NOTE**: This course is delivered by a Community Housing Academy partner.
Course payment and access occur directly on the partner organization's website.
Clicking the 'Enroll now' button will direct you to their course registration page.
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This is not a theoretical overview or a policy-focused training.
The Affordable Housing Course:
- Focuses on real-world decision points, not abstract concepts
- Reflects Canadian housing systems, funding environments, and governance realities
- Emphasizes sequencing, readiness, and risk not just end results
- Supports applied learning that can be used immediately to develop housing
Participants learn what happens, when it happens, and why it matters across the full housing development lifecycle.
Who This Course Is For
This course is designed for people who influence housing outcomes even if housing is not their full-time role.
- Municipal and regional staff involved in housing, planning, or community development
- Nonprofit and affordable housing organization leaders and staff
- Indigenous organizations and community practitioners
- Rural, remote, and northern community leaders
- Consultants and partners new to affordable housing development
Format
Format: Asynchronous, self-paced online course
Time Commitment: Approximately 6 hours
Delivery: Interactive modules with applied tools and resources
Engagement: Optional cohort discussions and Q&A sessions with the SHI team
Course plan
Module 1: Foundations of Affordable Housing Development
Understand how affordable housing development works in the Canadian context — and where your role fits.
-Key concepts and terminology
-Roles of municipalities, nonprofits, funders, and partners
-RDN’s approach to housing development
Module 2: Initiation: From Idea to Feasible Concept
Assess whether a housing idea is viable before time and money are spent.
-Project concept and organizational readiness
-Housing need and demand assessments
-Early-stage feasibility and risk
-Business case development
Module 3: Planning: Turning Feasibility Into a Real Plan
Make informed pre-development decisions that reduce risk and control cost.
-Planning and development process
-Timelines and work plans
-Consulting team roles
-Designing sustainable housing
Module 4: Execution: From Planning to Shovel-Ready
Understand what it takes to move a project through construction with confidence.
-Construction delivery models
-Budget management
-Governance and reporting
-Authority to occupy
Module 5: Closure & Operations: Long-Term Success
Ensure projects transition into sustainable, well-managed assets.
-Project close-out
-Property management and leasing
-Ongoing cost planning
Module 6: Impact Investing and Affordable Housing
Understand how impact investing fits into the housing landscape.
-Role of impact investing in housing
-Canadian context
Module 7: Bringing It All Together
Apply course learnings to real-world housing work.
-Integrating tools into day-to-day decisions
-Supporting future projects
Understand how affordable housing development works in the Canadian context — and where your role fits.
-Key concepts and terminology
-Roles of municipalities, nonprofits, funders, and partners
-RDN’s approach to housing development
Module 2: Initiation: From Idea to Feasible Concept
Assess whether a housing idea is viable before time and money are spent.
-Project concept and organizational readiness
-Housing need and demand assessments
-Early-stage feasibility and risk
-Business case development
Module 3: Planning: Turning Feasibility Into a Real Plan
Make informed pre-development decisions that reduce risk and control cost.
-Planning and development process
-Timelines and work plans
-Consulting team roles
-Designing sustainable housing
Module 4: Execution: From Planning to Shovel-Ready
Understand what it takes to move a project through construction with confidence.
-Construction delivery models
-Budget management
-Governance and reporting
-Authority to occupy
Module 5: Closure & Operations: Long-Term Success
Ensure projects transition into sustainable, well-managed assets.
-Project close-out
-Property management and leasing
-Ongoing cost planning
Module 6: Impact Investing and Affordable Housing
Understand how impact investing fits into the housing landscape.
-Role of impact investing in housing
-Canadian context
Module 7: Bringing It All Together
Apply course learnings to real-world housing work.
-Integrating tools into day-to-day decisions
-Supporting future projects
