Resilient Housing Cohort
Free professional consulting services for your community housing project.
DEADLINE TO SUBMIT: AUGUST 31 2026
The Canadian Housing and Renewal Association and the CRIS are launching a call for non-profit, municipal, First Nation or society owned housing owners and operators to join the Resilient Housing Cohort. This program is an opportunity to receive free expert services to enhance climate readiness and low-carbon opportunities for new build or retrofit housing projects.
What You’ll Gain
Through the CRIS program, you’ll gain access to one-on-one expert consultation for your project at no cost. The cohort will provide hands-on guidance and actionable solutions tailored to your specific context and needs.
How It Works
The cohort has 2 streams to support both new buildings and retrofit projects:
| New Construction | The new construction stream will analyze the proposed concept or designs and provide design options or guidelines to support the integration of energy efficiency, renewable energy, or climate resilience strategies. |
|---|---|
| Retrofit | For a single project, the retrofit stream will look at an existing building and provide options for upgrades in alignment with an ASHRAE level 2 energy audit.For a housing portfolio, the retrofit stream will include a high-level assessment of energy saving, renewable energy, or climate resilience opportunities across the portfolio with recommendations for project prioritization. |
Participants from each stream will receive:
- A customized technical options report, highlighting greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction strategies, estimated energy savings, project costs, financial feasibility and funding programs available to support the project.
- Retrofit or new construction options that include targeted risk and resilience solutions to mitigate climate hazards such as air quality and extreme heat for your tenants.
Opportunity to participate in interactive, expert-led webinars covering essential topics, from building retrofits and energy-efficient new construction to advanced climate hazard analysis for both existing and future buildings.
Submission Criteria
To be eligible for this cohort, housing projects must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Ownership: Eligible Housing Projects and Portfolios must be owned and operated by either:
- a local government, municipality, band council, other indigenous local governing body
- a non-profit, co-operative, and municipal housing organization or a non-profit organization delivering community housing services
- Project Type: Expert consulting services may be provided for a portfolio of housing facilities or a specific building design or renovation.
- Project Stage: The housing project should be planned or in progress, beyond just an idea stage.
Organization Size: This call is open to CHOs who operate fewer than 1000 units of housing.
How to Submit
Submit a simple CRIS service request form by August 31, 2026. No lengthy applications required. Click here to submit
Participation is limited and reviewed on a first‑come, first‑served basis
The Resilient Housing Cohort is offered in partnership with the Canadian Housing and Renewal Association as part of the Climate Ready Infrastructure Service, delivered by the Canadian Urban Institute and funded by the Government of Canada.
The Canadian Housing and Renewal Association (CHRA) was established in 1968 as a national non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and strengthening the social and non- profit housing sector. CHRA’s mission is to lead and provoke system-wide action toward the right to housing for all by serving as the national voice of the community housing sector and by creating the conditions for community housing providers to achieve their goals.
About the Resilient Housing Cohort
No. Participation in the Resilient Housing Cohort is fully funded through the Climate Ready Infrastructure Service (CRIS) program, delivered by the Canadian Urban Institute and funded by the Government of Canada.
Housing projects must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Ownership: Eligible Housing Projects and Portfolios must be owned and operated by either:
- a local government, municipality, band council, other indigenous local governing body
- a non-profit, co-operative, and municipal housing organization or a non-profit organization delivering community housing services
- Project Type: Expert consulting services may be provided for a portfolio of housing facilities or a specific building design or renovation.
- Project Stage: The housing project should be planned or in progress, beyond just an idea stage.
- Organization Size:This call is open to CHOs who operate fewer than 1000 units of housing.
The cohort is delivered over approximately 12 to 16 weeks. Participants should expect to attend 3-4 virtual expert led webinars during this time. Additional work is coordinated directly between participants and their assigned expert.
The Cohort is delivered entirely virtually to maximize accessibility for communities across Canada. Sessions include expert‑led webinars, facilitated peer learning, and direct engagement with CRIS roster experts.
CRIS participants receive one-on-one technical consulting from a member of the Roster of Climate and Infrastructure Experts.
Experts produce a tailored options report to identify and assess options to reduce emissions and lower costs for the project. Each report is unique and may include:
- Technical design or upgrade options that can mitigate climate-related hazards for buildings
- Energy use assessment (ASHRAE Level 1 or 2, Decarbonization Pathways)
- Information on estimated energy savings and projects costs related to your options
- Overview of funding pathways available for implementation
Interested communities submit a simple CRIS service request form linked here before August 31, 2026. Submissions are reviewed on a first‑come, first‑served basis, and participation is limited.
Learn More about Cohorts
Interested in getting involved in a CRIS Cohort in your province or territory? Learn about our other ongoing cohort opportunities offered with trusted national partners.
