91猫先生

To be eligible for the Homelessness Reduction Innovation Fund (HRIF), communities (outside Quebec*) must be:听

• The Reaching Home Community Entity (CE) for the Designated Community (DC) stream, and/or听听
  • the Indigenous Homelessness (IH) stream, and/or听听
  • the Territorial Homelessness (TH) stream, and/or听听
• the community lead organization participating in Built for Zero Canada (BFZ-C)听

* Organizations in Quebec are not eligible to apply for the Homelessness Reduction Innovation Fund. Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada will collaborate with the Government of Quebec to put in place this funding in recognition of the jurisdictions and priorities of both governments in the prevention and reduction of homelessness. Questions can be directed to Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada at:听reachinghomeinfo-infoversunchezsoi@infc.gc.ca

If your organization is not听the听Community Entity or community lead for BFZ-C in your community, please connect with one of them to collaborate on a project.听They听are required to听serve as the lead organization for an HRIF project.听

If you are an Indigenous-led organization but听are not听your community91猫先生 Indigenous Homelessness Community Entity (IH CE), please reach out to them, or to the Designated Community if no IH CE exists.听

Applications must be听submitted听by the CE or听BFZ-C听lead. To find your city or region91猫先生 Community Entity, see the听.听

If your community has both a CE and a community lead for BFZ-C, and these are different organizations, we encourage them to collaborate on one project, with one organization taking the lead.听

Applicants听must be able to听demonstrate:鈥�听

• An improvement project aimed at reducing homelessness by increasing move-ins to housing or decreasing inflow to homelessness for the chosen target population听

• Quality By-Name Data (QBND) for your project91猫先生 target population, confirmed by CAEH听

• • 听if your project91猫先生 target population听is听unsheltered or all homelessness听

• • QBND v 3.0 if your project91猫先生 target population听is听chronic or veteran homelessness听

Priority populations for HRIF projects are:鈥�听

• Unsheltered Homelessness鈥�(strongly encouraged)听

• Chronic听Homelessness听

• Veteran Homelessness鈥�听

Note:听CAEH will share learnings and successes from funded projects with other communities across the country. Communities with funded projects commit to sharing their learnings, outcomes, and project data with CAEH. Communities must be able and willing to share QBND with CAEH monthly (at minimum).听

HRIF is for innovative projects that aim to measurably reduce homelessness by increasing outflow to housing, or decreasing inflow into homelessness. Communities are encouraged to develop projects that:

• set Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound (SMART) aims
• use data to drive project design, measure outcomes, and support identification and/or solutions of system inequities
• follow short, iterative Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles;
• take approaches to reduce homelessness that are innovative for their community, and
• present opportunities to share findings to accelerate reductions across the country

HRIF prioritizes projects addressing Chronic, Veteran, and Unsheltered homelessness. Communities are encouraged to review their local data to identify gaps, and design projects that directly address these priority populations.

You can choose to target any population听for which听you have QBND. However, HRIF projects that target the above priority populations are strongly encouraged and will be prioritized for funding.听

No; you are听asked to choose a primary target population. Please remember that听inflow, outflow, and active homelessness听for听your project91猫先生听target population must be measured and reported听on a monthly basis听(at minimum).听

HRIF projects that aim to reduce chronic homelessness must adopt the听听definition of chronic homelessness.听

Built for Zero Canada has aligned its definition with Veteran Affairs Canada. A Veteran听includes any former member of the Canadian Armed Forces, an Allied Force (e.g., U.S./U.K veteran), the RCMP, Reservists, Veteran Civilians, and Canadian Rangers.

A听Veteran experiencing homelessness听includes those who do not have stable, permanent, appropriate housing, or the immediate prospect, means, and ability of acquiring it (paraphrased from the Canadian Observatory on Homelessness and the Government of Canada91猫先生 National Housing Strategy).

There is currently no standard definition of unsheltered homelessness. Communities must have a written, shared local definition in order to confirm QBND on unsheltered homelessness.

CAEH uses 6 data points to measure inflows to and outflows from homelessness:

• Actively Homeless: The total number of people experiencing homelessness at the end of the reporting month
• Move-Ins: The total number of people who moved into permanent housing during the reporting month AND remain housed at the end of the reporting month
• Returned from Housing: The total number of people previously reported as a 'move-in鈥� who have lost their housing and returned to active homelessness
• Newly Identified: The total number of people added to the By-Name Data (BND) for the first time during the reporting month
• Aged In: Individuals who are 'active homeless' on the BND and have met the definition of 'chronic' for the first time during the reporting month (Note: This data point is only for communities tracking chronic data)

Refer to the for additional information.

Note: HRIF supports projects aimed at reducing homelessness by increasing move-ins to housing, or by decreasing inflow to homelessness. Projects targeting system improvements to either 鈥楳oves to Inactive鈥� or 鈥楻eturns from Inactive鈥� are not eligible.

No, you must pick one data point per project. If your project aims to address more than one data point through the same intervention or change,听pick听the data point that it primarily aims to address.听

HRIF does not fund capital projects such as buying property, constructing new buildings, or major renovations.听Small capital expenses (up to $50,000 and in alignment with eligible expenses under Reaching Home Directives) may be considered, and only if they clearly support a system-level improvement that decreases inflow or increases outflow. These are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.听

Below is a list of expenses and activities HRIF does not fund:

• Any activity that does not decrease inflow or increase outflow for households experiencing/at imminent risk of homelessness
• Capital projects, including:
  • Buying land or buildings
  • New construction
  • Renovations over $50,000
  • Renovations/repairs to social housing units not exclusively for households on the BND
• Landlord incentives paid directly to landlords
• Rent-to-own programs
• Rental assistance for people already receiving rental assistance from another program
• Long-term rental subsidies
• Payments for student housing when the student is not at imminent risk of homelessness
• Supports/services for individuals who are low-income but not at imminent risk (they would not qualify to be added to the BND)
• Down payments or mortgage payments, or repairs to a home someone owns
• Rent bank creation or loan programs
• Purchase of alcohol, cigarettes (unless for ceremony), cannabis, or illicit drugs
• Clinical, health, or treatment services (i.e. nursing fees, addictions counselling)
• Employment activities already funded by another program
• Wages for individuals experiencing homelessness
• Teacher wages for alternative education
• Tuition or educational program fees
• Apprentice grants
• Major vehicle purchases (ie. moving vans for housing-focused outreach)
• Any activity that isn鈥檛 aligned with continuous improvement or doesn鈥檛 contribute to improving a BND inflow/outflow indicator

Note: This is not an exhaustive list. For more on eligible expenses and activities, refer to the If you鈥檙e unsure about eligibility, please check with your Improvement Advisor or contact HRIF@caeh.ca.

HRIF is designed to support short-term projects (up to 12 months) that strengthen a community91猫先生 homelessness response system. Projects must focus on system-level interventions that are impactful, and ideally sustainable, beyond HRIF91猫先生 funding period. Funded activities should:

• Improve coordinated access
• Accelerate move-ins
• Reduce returns to homelessness
• Strengthen data systems
• Improve processes or housing-focused practices

Because of this system-level focus, HRIF funding is not intended for long-term capital work or direct housing provision, which is better supported through other funding streams.

Yes, communities can submit multiple projects, but are encouraged to focus efforts on one well-rounded project that you believe will have the most impact.

By-Name Data (BND) is鈥痳eal-time鈥痙ata of鈥痑ll鈥痥nown people experiencing homelessness in a community. It includes a robust set of data points that support coordinated access, prioritization at a household/individual level, and an understanding of homeless inflow and outflow at a systems level. This real-time鈥痑ctionable data鈥痵upports鈥痶riage鈥痶o services, evaluation of system performance,鈥痑苍诲鈥痑dvocacy for the policies and resources necessary to end homelessness.听

BND is a subtle but important shift away from the term By-Name List, which was sometimes interpreted as stand-alone data. By-Name Data refers to the dynamic universe of person-specific homelessness data contained within an overall community-wide homelessness database or data system.听

Further information and resources can be found on the BFZ-C听听webpage.听

The CAEH reviews a community91猫先生 BND Scorecard and monthly data to confirm Quality By-Name Data (QBND). This includes:听

• A confirmed score of 13/13 on the BND Foundations Scorecard & Tools Version 4.0, supported by:听
  • A completed BND Scorecard notes column听
  • A completed Outreach Coverage and Coordination Tool听
  • A completed System Map听
  • A review of relevant policies and documents听
  • A review of the community91猫先生 anonymized BND and demonstration of how aggregate BND points are extracted听
  • A HIFIS Health Check (if applicable)听
• At least 3 consecutive months of complete BND, where the last 3 months are reliable within a 5% margin of error听
• Setting a baseline month from which to measure reductions听

听v 4.0听sets out a framework with 13 key elements for building the necessary data management and systems coordination practices to understand the movement of everyone experiencing homelessness in your community (those听identified听and consenting).听

The BND Scorecard is part of the Scorecards and Tools Workbook Version 4.0, released November 2024. For an overview, see the Scorecards and Tools Workbook 4.0 launch (鈥痑苍诲鈥�),鈥痮r review the听.鈥�听

Note: Communities听participating听in Built for Zero - Canada (BFZ-C) can access community-specific Scorecards in their Change Package.听

The BND Scorecard lists requirements for quality data for All Homelessness, with听additional听elements for specific populations, including Veteran, Chronic, and Unsheltered Homelessness.听

In addition to the requirements listed above (under听鈥�How are communities confirmed for having 鈥淨uality鈥� By-Name Data?鈥�), a community must complete the following elements听relevant to their project target population听to be confirmed as having Quality BND for that population:听

If you are funded under Reaching Home, please note communities are听required to move听away听from current ways of measuring aggregate inflow/outflow/active homelessness data to adopting the Canadian Methodology developed by Housing, Infrastructure, and Communities Canada (HICC), which requires use of the Community Outcomes Report (COR).听

As part of the EOI and application process, CAEH may assess a community91猫先生 current Homelessness Management Information System (HMIS) and COR usage, readiness, or transition plans. Please contact your Improvement Advisor(s) or听HRIF@caeh.ca听for any听questions related to adopting the Canadian Methodology.听

Yes. If your application is approved, you will need to have all monthly data submissions up to date before听entering into听an HRIF agreement, and听timely听data reporting will be听required听throughout the project. Please听plan ahead听to avoid delays once funding is confirmed, and so you have the data needed to track progress and meet HRIF expectations.听

You are not eligible for HRIF funding without QBND. However, the HRIF is intended to help communities make measurable progress in reducing homelessness. Thus, communities that听诲辞苍鈥檛听currently meet all the eligibility criteria are still invited to听submit听an EOI. Use the space provided in the EOI to share听additional听context about your efforts and plans. While eligibility is听required听for funding, projects that听补谤别苍鈥檛听ready may receive guidance and support to strengthen future applications. Your EOI may also be shared with the National Indigenousness Homelessness Council (NIHC) for review and听additional听support.听

Note: If you are an IH CE that does not have QBND confirmed by CAEH, but are interested in applying, please听indicate听this in your EOI.听NIHC may follow up with you to learn more and explore how they can support your community and application.听

Round 3 of HRIF Expressions of Interest are available听Feb听17,听2026听9am ET听鈥撎�Mar听13,听2026听4pm ET听and can be found听on the听HRIF webpage. Submitting a full application for HRIF is invitation-only at this time, based on assessments of received EOIs. All who听submit听an EOI will be notified听whether they are invited to听submit听a full application听by听Mar听30,听2026听at 4pm ET.听

1. Expressions of Interest (EOI) will be screened to ensure all eligibility criteria are met. Projects that meet the criteria may be invited to submit an application.
2. Improvement Advisors from the CAEH will work with successful EOI proponents to develop a full application. The National Indigenous Homelessness Council (NIHC) may also provide support.
3. Applications will be reviewed by a committee of representatives from CAEH with support from NIHC and outside experts.

Your community91猫先生 Improvement Advisor(s) will support you in developing and strengthening your application, and may be asked to provide additional context about your project, but will not be part of the selection process to ensure neutrality.

Yes, but not for the purpose of听receiving听additional听funding to sustain an existing project.听

Communities听that have previously received HRIF funding听may also apply for a new project听that targets听a different population听or听data point, or听that听builds upon听a previous听project听by听testing听a new approach/change.听听

Note:听Projects that build听upon听previous听projects/learnings must听demonstrate听greater impact.听

Connect with your Improvement Advisor(s)听or听HRIF@caeh.ca听for support.听

If you are a Built听For听Zero 鈥� Canada (BFZ-C) community, you have an Improvement Advisor (IA) who can support you through the听development听of your EOI & application.听听

Each community invited to听submit听an application will have a dedicated IA to support you with听your project, including if you are not a BFZ-C community but have been invited to听submit听an application.听

Our Senior Leadership Team听reviews projects and听may听join your coaching calls with your IA to provide guidance/feedback and support.听

The National Indigenous Homelessness Council (NIHC) also reviews听projects and听may be听available to support if your organization is an听Indigenous Homelessness Community Entity听under Reaching Home. You can connect with them directly at听MayanaS@nihc-cnasa.ca.听

Are听training costs covered through HRIF?听

If training is听required听for staff completing or running your HRIF project,听a听training budget may be considered to support capacity for the duration of the project, in line with听.听Please connect with your IA or听HRIF@caeh.ca听to learn more.听

If training is听required听for staff completing or running your HRIF project,听a听training budget may be considered to support capacity for the duration of the project, in line with听.听Please connect with your IA or听HRIF@caeh.ca听to learn more.听

The HRIF is intended to help communities make measurable progress in reducing homelessness.听CAEH aims to fund as many projects as possible.听Communities that听诲辞苍鈥檛听currently meet all the eligibility criteria are still invited to听submit听an EOI. Use the space provided in the EOI to share听additional听context about your efforts and plans. While eligibility is听required听for funding, projects that听补谤别苍鈥檛听ready may receive guidance and support to strengthen future applications. Your EOI may also be shared with the NIHC for review and听additional听support.听

Below are some听steps you can take to听strengthen听your eligibility for the next round of听HRIF funding:听

• Reach out to your Improvement Advisor(s)听(IA)听for support.听If you are an IH CE, please feel free to contact the NIHC听at:听mayanaS@nihc-cnasa.ca听or lisaS@nihc-cnasa.ca听

• Connect with the eligible听lead听organization(s) in your community to assess potential for collaboration听

• Confirm QBND听for your project91猫先生 target population听with CAEH听

• Identify听a clear aim to increase outflow to housing,听or reduce inflow听into homelessness听for your project91猫先生 target population听

CAEH targets听the听summer of 2026 for听round 4听of HRIF听expressions of interest.听Visit the听HRIF webpage听for updated information.听

You can register for听听the following information sessions, which will cover听frequently听asked questions, how to apply, key dates, and eligibility requirements:听

• English:听February 18,听2026听at 2 PM EST听鈥撎�听

• French:听February 19,听2026听at 2 PM EST听鈥撎�听

This information session is for all Indigenous-led organizations and CEs funded through Reaching Home91猫先生 Indigenous Homelessness stream (including CEs that receive both IH & DC funding). Led by the National Indigenous Homelessness Council (NIHC), this will be a chance to learn about the opportunities and implications of being funded through HRIF, including topics related to QBND and data governance, project听design听and evaluation, as well as narrative sovereignty and knowledge sharing. Please bring your questions!听

Recordings will be made available here afterwards.听You can also reach out to your CAEH Improvement Advisor(s).听All HRIF updates will be provided on the听HRIF website.听