The City of Moose Jaw has unveiled a new housing incentive in the hope of bringing more multi-unit housing to the city. 

Eligible projects include the installation of secondary suites or the legalization of existing suites in infill areas and housing units or beds that have been approved for financial and other supports under a federal or provincial housing-related incentive and could be eligible at the discretion of city council. 

“In 2018, we had completed strategic planning and obviously wanted to grow our community. We've been hugely successful and what we're finding now is that we have 600 to 700 vacant positions available in Moose Jaw and more coming and that there is a lack of rental housing and a lack of housing altogether,” said city manager Jim Puffalt. 

The housing project could be eligible for a five-year tax phase-in. This would mean a 100 per cent tax exemption for year one with the exemption reducing by 20 per cent each year. 

Projects can also be eligible for capital grants from the city with a base grant to $3,000 per housing unit. City administration can approve capital grants up to $5,000 per housing unit if the project includes multiple housing objectives such as energy-saving designs or the reuse of a heritage building. 

A project can receive a maximum grant of $25,000 and will be provided as funding allows. The city has budgeted $125,000 for the program. 

Meanwhile, the Replacement Housing Incentive Program has been built into the new initiative. This is for replacement and infill housing within existing and previously developed infill areas. These projects can be eligible for a five-year 100 per cent tax exemption. 

“Annually, I think we would receive probably 5 to 6 units per year under that program, so we would call that fairly successful for the city, and we'd like to see more redevelopment in our older areas within the city. Our housing stock is older than many in the province and we would like to update that housing stock, absolutely,” said director of planning and development Michelle Sanson. 

More information and application forms can be found on the city’s website