The Nunalingni Piruqpaalirut Fund (NPF), also known as the Growth in our Land Fund, offers financial support to the community housing sector in Nunavut. Established in collaboration with the Nunavut Housing Corporation (NHC) as part of the Nunavut 3000 Strategic Plan, the fund will contribute to addressing various housing priorities throughout the region.
It aims to play a crucial role in expanding the affordable housing inventory, mitigating homelessness, and maximizing overall resources to enhance the housing continuum.
The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), recently released their Northern Housing Report. It highlights that the number of Nunavut households living in inadequate and/or unsuitable homes has increased. And while the growth rate of house prices slowed down in some centres compared to 2022, they continue to remain high. The Nunalingni Piruqpaalirut Fund aims to positively impact these and other issues.
Now, let’s have a look at the possible opportunities created through this fund and answer a few questions we’ve received at the Community Housing Transformation Centre since the Fund’s inception:
Capacity Building:
The Fund is aimed at supporting projects that foster the development of community housing organizations. It aims to address capacity gaps, strengthens skills, and build competencies to establish a robust and sustainable foundation for growth.
Supporting projects that boost the expansion of community housing organizations in Nunavut brings about numerous benefits for both residents and the broader community.
It addresses the pressing issue of housing scarcity in the region, where extreme weather conditions and geographical challenges make housing a critical necessity. By investing in community housing initiatives, individuals gain access to secure and affordable living spaces, contributing to improve overall well-being and quality of life.
Moreover, these projects stimulate economic growth by creating job opportunities and fostering local skills development. As community housing organizations take root and flourish, they enhance social cohesion and community resilience, creating a positive ripple effect on the region’s social fabric.
Ultimately, supporting such initiatives not only addresses the immediate housing needs but also strengthens the foundation for sustainable, thriving communities in Nunavut.
Planning & Pre-Development:
It will assist in covering costs associated with pre-development activities for the construction of new affordable housing. The NPF will decrease barriers in accessing capital and federal funding.
Financial support for pre-development activities yields numerous advantages.
It expedites the development process by funding crucial preliminary steps such as site assessments, architectural planning, and feasibility studies. This financial support ensures that potential obstacles are identified and addressed early on, streamlining the construction process and reducing delays.
Additionally, covering pre-development costs enables developers to secure necessary permits and approvals efficiently, facilitating a smoother transition to the construction phase. By mitigating financial barriers at the outset, this support fosters the creation of more affordable housing units, meeting the pressing demand for accessible and low-cost housing options.
In the long term, investing in pre-development activities contributes to the overall expansion of affordable housing options, promoting community development and addressing housing shortages in a more comprehensive manner.
Research & Innovation:
The NPF supports projects that promote innovation, education, and knowledge transfer within the community housing sector.
Bolstering these initiatives not only enhances the sector’s efficiency and effectiveness but also empowers communities by equipping them with the skills and insights needed to address housing challenges and create sustainable solutions.
What are the Eligibility Criteria?
This fund is open to organizations operating in the community housing sector in Nunavut, including
- Non-profit housing providers
- Co-operative housing providers
- Non-profit organizations
- Community/regional groups & coalitions
It should be noted that academics collaborating with non-profit organizations can also apply to the Research and Innovation stream, with the non-profit being the applicant.
For detailed information on the application process, please refer to the application guide, which you can download here.
We advise interested parties to register quickly as we tend to fill up quite fast. For more information about the Centre’s grants, check out or Grants page. You can also review a list of our awarded projects here. If you have additional questions about our funding process, our FAQ will have answers.
