Saskatchewan’s community housing sector is facing an aging housing stock, limited funding, and a shortage of skilled workers. Compared to many other provinces, unfortunately it remains underdeveloped and fragmented, limiting its ability to meet rising needs.
As residential insecurity increases, local providers lack the structural support and sustained public investment needed for coordinated sector growth.
In response, the Saskatchewan Non-Profit Housing Association (SNPHA) is stepping up. With support from the Centre, SNPHA is working to become a unifying voice for community housing in the province and to chart a path toward lasting, systemic change.
This partnership is rooted in a shared vision: to build the foundation for a more sustainable and better-connected community housing ecosystem, with a strong focus on the construction and acquisition of affordable homes. For the Centre, it also serves as a strategic lever to foster sector growth and long-term consolidation.
A sector ready for transformation
Community housing currently plays a limited role in Saskatchewan’s housing landscape due to weak structural support. This limits its visibility, access to funding, and institutional recognition.
While the SNPHA benefits from a committed board of directors, its efforts are constrained by insufficient operational funding and stagnant membership growth. Existing programs, driven largely by volunteers, continue to operate with minimal budgets for now.
Establishing a strong provincial structure would help address these gaps by enhancing the sector’s credibility with institutional partners. By focusing on collaboration and capacity building, SNPHA aims to pave the way for more stable government support through public community partnerships and sustained funding.
Strategic renewal to support sector growth
SNPHA is charting a new course with the development of a five-year business strategy aimed at reducing its dependence on membership fees and public funding. This transformation is being supported by a $100,000 grant from the Centre’s Sector Transformation Fund, awarded in the summer of 2024. The Government of Saskatchewan has also committed to contributing $50,000 annually for five years, contingent on matching funds from the Centre.
These investments will help finalize the strategic plan, which is currently being shaped through extensive consultations, and launch key initiatives such as an annual symposium and a series of webinars. These activities will focus on strengthening governance, mobilization, and organizational development. A broad consultation with key partners is currently underway to ensure the association is structured for long-term success.
Members, suppliers, and partners will be invited to share their needs, expectations, and perspectives on the association’s role moving forward.
Insights gathered through these consultations will inform a detailed operational plan, outlining strategies to grow membership, strengthen sector capacity, diversify revenue streams, and secure long-term financial sustainability.
At the same time, a comprehensive governance review is underway. A consultant will assess the composition of the Board of Directors, internal policies, and decision-making processes to identify areas for improvement. The goal is to align SNPHA’s governance structure with its strategic vision and ensure it reflects best practices.
“The Centre is supporting the Saskatchewan Non-Profit Housing Association to establish themselves as the voice of the sector in Saskatchewan, a critical need at a time of growing investment in affordable housing. Our goal is to help the association shift from volunteer operations to a professional structure focused on long-term growth. Funding from the Sector Transformation Fund will support strategic planning, sector-wide engagement, and collaboration with government. This will strengthen the sector’s autonomy and visibility at both the provincial and federal levels.”
Joseph Daniels, development manager
Building a collective force for community housing
This project lays the groundwork for a stronger, more organized, and action-driven community housing sector in Saskatchewan. By building SNPHA’s capacity, the initiative seeks to establish an organization equipped to support sector growth and position it as a key driver in reshaping the province’s housing landscape.
In a province where programs are limited and support structures remain underdeveloped; there is an urgent need to provide the sector with the tools and resources it requires to meet the housing crisis head-on. The goal is not simply to come together for visibility, but to build a collective force capable of developing bold initiatives, providing practical solutions, and contributing to a vision of housing that better reflects the needs and aspirations of Canadians, beyond the framework of private ownership.
