2. About the Agency

Defence Residential Housing Program

The DRHP exists to provide residential rental housing to CAF members when and where duty demands. The Program is a critical enabler for CAF operations, and it serves to provide members and their families with rental housing options to support military operational requirements and in locations where private sector housing is either not sufficiently available or suitable.

In June 2017, the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) confirmed an operational requirement for DND military housing to support the unique military service lifestyle, new entrants to the CAF (junior Non-Commissioned Members and Officers) early in their careers and members on extended training. It was determined that these groups may require access to DND residential housing as part of their transition to military life, as well as supporting professional and operational training activities, and as a key mechanism to mitigate and minimize the stressors that military families face due to the unique demands of military service.

In addition to the operational requirement for housing, the policy framework establishes that DND military housing should also support isolated posts, designated residences, foreign military agreements and those sites where there is a lack of market capacity.

The existing portfolio is not sufficient to meet the needs of the CAF as stated by the CDS given that the portfolio does not have the appropriate composition of unit sizes, nor does it meet the needs at some locations due to availability and affordability challenges in the private sector.

A fulsome analysis was conducted in 2018 and approved by the Living Accommodation Board (LAB) in January 2019, identifying that there were housing challenges for thousands of CAF members – requiring a layered response, with not only new constructions or acquisitions, but also changes to policy, compensation and benefits, and other possible services and supports for CAF members.

Upon completion of the accommodation policy review (to be approved in spring 2024 and implemented by December 2024), CFHA will have a year after implementation to review and revise the housing requirements, develop a proposed response plan, and submit to DND for review and decision on resourcing of investment plans required to meet the housing needs of the CAF.

Currently, more than 15% of eligible CAF members live in military housing. For those members, military housing not only offers close proximity to their work and local amenities, it also provides a supportive and safe community that promotes the quality of life of the members and their families. This is particularly important for new CAF members in their transition to military life.

The majority of the housing portfolio consists of three and four bedroom single and semi-detached houses constructed in the 1950s to 1960s. Building more housing as well as sustaining the overall condition of the DND residential housing portfolio are the top priorities for the DRHP.

The DRHP integrates Real Property management with housing services delivery in order to fulfill its mandate. Operational activities include the allocation of housing to occupants, the collection and management of rental revenues, Head Office and housing site operations, housing asset maintenance and repair, strategic portfolio planning and development, and Real Property project delivery.

The program’s operational expenses, including routine maintenance and repairs, are financed by net rental revenue collected from occupants. However, capital expenditures for new construction and renovations of the existing housing portfolio are funded by the Department.