Housing and Physical Environment

On This Page:

1. Finding a Home
2. Canadian Armed Forces Relocation Directive 
3. Intended Place of Residence (IPR)

Housing relates to the physical structure of the home as well as the social and physical environment in which it is situated. The physical structure of the house includes the state of its repair, accessibility, safe drinking water, etc. The social dimensions of housing include housing security, and sense of belonging and safety. The environment surrounding a home considers proximity of services such as schools, recreation areas, health care, and shopping.

Inadequate housing can lead to poor health outcomes. Precarious housing or homelessness is always a risk during your post-service life and can be caused by individual circumstances as well as system failures.

In the built environment, factors related to housing, indoor air quality, and the design of communities and transportation systems can significantly influence our physical and psychological well-being.

When a transitioning member has found a safe, comfortable, and affordable accommodation, they will be in a place from which they can build on other elements of well-being. A secure address is important to secure new work, or to focus on health and family time.

The most important aspect of this domain of well-being is to be living in safe, adequate and affordable housing.

Some things to consider

• Are you satisfied that you have access to an appropriate range of housing options, and you are not being forced into an uncomfortable situation?
• Are you confident that you will be able to find and afford adequate, appropriate, and safe housing?
• Are the costs related to housing reasonable, manageable and within your budget?
• Do you know about and are you applying for support for home modifications, home support services, housekeeping assistance, and grounds maintenance assistance (if required)? For additional information on these benefits, call or visit your local CAF TC.
• When considering the cost of civilian housing, have you factored in changing mortgage or interest rates, local government taxes, utility costs and maintenance costs (including capital replacement such as furnaces, roofing, etc.)?
• Have you developed criteria to help you select a location to live after release?

Finding a Home

Upon release from the CAF, many families will be considering their next place of residence. For many families, securing housing will not be an issue, as they already live in civilian accommodation. Some do not intend to move, having already set down roots in their community. However, other families may decide to change their residence, either because they have to vacate the Residential Housing Unit (RHU, formerly known as PMQ) or they wish to move closer to home or to specific services.

Whether a family decides to buy or rent, housing is the most significant expense for a family. The financial assessment and planning process will be instrumental in helping families determine their options for moving to a new place of residence.

When selecting a new place of residence after release, families should be considering the following questions:

• In which area would I/we like to spend our next years?
• Would I/we be comfortable living in a particular neighborhood?
• Do I/we know anybody (acquaintances, friends, family) in that community?
• Are the services that my family and I need available, and are they offered in our preferred language?
• Do I/we have the support network that would provide us with assistance in the event of an emergency? If so, create a list.
• Have I discussed these considerations with my spouse/partner?
• To rent or to buy, which would be most advantageous for me/us? And why?
• Would the new place of residence meet my/our medical care needs?
• Moving to a city or to the country: what are the pros and cons? Make a list.
• Would my spouse/partner and I be able to find work?
• Have I/we checked the credentials of our real estate agent?
• Am I/Are we buying, only to sell after few years? If yes, what are the reasons? Is the reason worth the purchase?
• Have I/we discussed what features we want in our next home? If yes, list them.
• Based on our financial situation, could I/we afford to live comfortably in this new home?
• Would this home meet our children’s needs? If so, how?
• Are there good reasons to want to live in this community? If yes, list them.

The following form has been designed to help families organize their search for a new home.

Canadian Armed Forces Relocation Directive (CAFRD)

Brookfield Global Relocation Services (BGRS)

The CAF is committed to improving the relocation experience for you and your family and will continue to work with Brookfield Global Relocation Services (BGRS) to improve the service delivery model while continuously modernizing our relocation benefits packages. BGRS provides support services to CAF members and their families, primarily via interactive online services, that include professional advice, providing information, guidance, and assistance during the entire relocation process, with the aim of maximizing the benefits provided in the CAFRD. Visit the BGRS page (Accessible only on the National Defence network) for additional information.

Canadian Armed Forces Relocation Directive

The CAFRD contains information regarding the benefits and applicable funding available to relocate CAF members, their dependants (if applicable) and their household goods and effects ((D) HG&E). It provides options to CAF members within a policy framework to allow them to choose specific relocation benefits. It’s purpose is to relocate CAF members, and their (D)HG&E:

• with the minimum detrimental effect on the member and their dependants;
• with the minimum detrimental effect on CAF operations, CAF training, and CAF administration; and
• at the most reasonable cost.

The CAFRD can be found here.

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Intended Place of Residence (IPR)

Intended place of residence (IPR) means the place at which a member, or an eligible person who is not an estate, intends to reside following a release or transfer from the Regular Force. In respect of an estate, it is the place in which the executor or the member’s lawfully appointed agent intends to move the member’s HG&E. A Regular Force member’s eligibility to a move to an IPR is based on the period of continuous Regular Force service and release item in accordance with the following table:

*The term "any location" from table above includes a local move only when the member is entitled to a local move in accordance with CAFRD 14.5.09 (Local move to IPR – entitlement and amount).

Local Move

Generally, there is no entitlement to a Local move (a relocation of 40 kilometers or less, measured using the shortest normal route available to the public, from a person’s current residence to their IPR.) There are four exceptions to this which are detailed at CAFRD 14.5.09. It’s imperative to verify eligibility as stipulated within the CAFRD, however, a member may qualify for a local move if:

• they released, or commenced the IPR move prior to 16 September 2014;
• have to vacate Crown accommodations (reimbursement is limited to $10,000)
• are released under item 3 (Medical); or
• in rare cases if the CMP personally approves such (this requires specific compelling reasons (see CAFRD for more information).

IPR Move Time Limits

The following information is crucial to understand prior to electing an IPR:

• There is an Initial Time Limit of two years for an IPR move;
• The Director Compensation and Benefits Administration (DCBA) may grant a Time Limit Extension of one year; and
• the CMP may grant a Second Extension for up to an additional three years for compelling reasons.

It’s imperative that any extension requests be submitted through the Release Section prior to the expiry of any current time limit. The CAFRD provides full details of the required criteria for extensions.

Should a Regular Force member transfer to another component, and work Class B and/or C, their time limit shall be extended by the same number of days served in that/those period(s) of service.

NOTE: Although rare, a member may conduct an early move to IPR prior to release (see CAFRD 14.2.05 for details)

Elections

A member must elect an IPR using the applicable form before any IPR expenses may be claimed. An IPR election is required for BGRS to initiate a file.

Amendments

A member may amend their IPR prior to reimbursement or after such provided HG&E has not been moved at public expense from current residence (CAFRD 14.2.04).

The Request for Move of Members on Release form can be found at this page.

Limitation of Benefits

CAFRD 14.5.01 - IPR benefits are generally the same as a typical posting within Canada except:

• House Hunting Trip (HHT)/Destination Inspection Trip (DIT) (see the CAFRD);
• No entitlement Real Estate Incentive (REI);
• No Home Equity Assistance (HEA) for a local move;
• Benefit funding (see the CAFRD);
• Additional entitlements for unaccompanied members; local moves to an IPR; and
• Moves to an IPR outside of Canada (see the CAFRD).

For more information on CAF Relocations visit the Benefits page (under Relocation Management) (Accessible only on the National Defence network).