1. The year in review from the Chief Executive Officer
The Canadian Forces Housing Agency (CFHA) is a Special Operating Agency responsible for providing residential accommodation solutions for Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members and their families. During fiscal year (FY) 2023–24, CFHA delivered housing services to roughly 26,000 occupants, in over 11,650 residential housing units (RHU) across 27 bases and wings in Canada.
CFHA acknowledges the gap between the existing portfolio and what is needed to support the CAF. The current housing portfolio is insufficient to meet the CAF’s needs, lacking the right mix of unit sizes and noting shortfalls in the number of units in many locations due to availability and affordability challenges in the private sector.
This year presented many challenges, including the public service strike and a significant climate related event in Yellowknife. The national housing crisis has exacerbated affordability and availability issues, which also affects military members. The frequent relocations associated with military service have amplified these concerns, leading to an increased demand for Department of National Defence (DND) military housing. In FY 2023-24, the national average number of personnel on the waiting list for DND military housing was 1,799, significantly higher than previous years.
Despite these conditions, CFHA continued to make progress on the Defence Residential Housing Program:
Net occupancy
The Agency achieved a net occupancy rate of 90% this year, which is a new annual key performance indicator introduced under the Departmental Results Framework this year. The net occupancy rate reflects the overall usage of residential housing nationwide. This indicator will be monitored closely in the future to ensure that a substantial portion of available housing units are occupied.
Increasing the housing supply
In FY 2023-24, the Agency built 18 new RHUs in Shilo and Comox, and advanced on the designs and pre-construction planning as it launched the first phase of the Residential Portfolio Capital Investment Plan Construction Program, which will result in the construction of 668 RHUs at nine priority locations over the next five years. In addition, CFHA created and staffed a new team responsible for strategic initiatives, to explore and develop alternate housing solutions. This includes optimizing the utilization of residential housing, exploring innovative partnerships with the private sector, and collaborating with other government departments on housing-specific initiatives. These efforts will complement traditional Crown-construction in increasing housing supply.
Improving military housing
CFHA continued to conduct extensive, routine life cycle replacement work to maintain the existing housing portfolio. Given housing pressures, it was essential to balance between allocating as many units as possible while ensuring that vacancies were limited to instances where repairs and renovations were absolutely necessary. In FY 2023-24, the Agency invested over $143 million in the residential housing portfolio, completing renovations and lifecycle repairs in over 3,500 RHUs, while also building new units. As a result, the national condition assessment rating increased from 3.18 in 2023 to 3.25 in 2024.
Green initiatives
CFHA finalized designs for six-unit net-zero emissions ready apartment buildings in Edmonton, supporting the Government of Canada’s sustainability objectives and commitments for reducing carbon emissions, adapting to climate change, and making infrastructure more resilient. These designs are important for CFHA’s construction plans as they will be adapted for future six-unit buildings in other sites. In addition, the Agency continues to focus on portfolio decarbonization, replacing carbon-intensive systems and developing electrification strategies. CFHA continued to expand its partnership with Natural Resources Canada on strategies and programs to improve the energy efficiency of the housing portfolio, and to reduce associated carbon emissions and utility bills for our occupants.
Indigenous procurement success
In collaboration with Defence Construction Canada, CFHA exceeded its Indigenous procurement targets, awarding 9.3% of contracts to Indigenous businesses and surpassing its 5% goal. This achievement demonstrates the Agency’s commitment to supporting Indigenous economic development and strengthening its relationship with Indigenous communities.
CFHA maintained a high net occupancy rate and continued to invest in the maintenance and improvement of its housing portfolio. By prioritizing sustainability, Indigenous procurement, and the well-being of military members, CFHA is contributing to broader government objectives while supporting the housing needs of CAF members and their communities. Through a challenging year, navigating the ongoing housing and affordability crisis and impacts to office operations in Esquimalt and Yellowknife, CFHA continued demonstrating its dedication and is committing to explore innovative housing solutions to meet the unique needs of the military community.
Paola Zurro, ing., P.Eng.
Chief Executive Officer,
Canadian Forces Housing Agency