About

The ministry of Alberta Housing and Urban Affairs (HUA) contributes to the inclusion, well being, and independence of lower-income Albertans through safe, sustainable and affordable housing, and assists urban communities with addressing their unique needs.

On March 16, 2009, Alberta became the first province in Canada to endorse a provincial 10-year plan to end homelessness. A Plan for Alberta: Ending Homelessness in 10 years shifts the role of government from managing homelessness through emergency shelters to ending homelessness by providing permanent housing and the supports needed to break the cycle of homelessness. Alberta’s plan adopts an approach known as Housing First, which subscribes to the belief that homeless clients cannot address the fundamental causes of their homelessness without being first provided with access to safe, secure, and permanent housing.

HUA’s capital funding initiatives have contributed to address housing needs along a continuum of housing.  Our assistance ranges from providing the most basic elements of shelter to help the homeless or those in crisis, increasing the rental portfolio, promoting  homeownership through down payment and mortgage assistance programs, and helping close the rental affordability gap for low income Albertans.