CMHC for Aboriginal	November 2007

Shelter Enhancement Program (SEP)

The Shelter Enhancement Program (SEP) assists in repairing,rehabilitating and improving existing shelters for women and their children, youth and men who are victims of family violence; and in acquiring or building new shelters and second-stage housing where needed.

Who is eligible?

Eligible clients are:

non-profit corporations
charities that, as a principal objective, house women and children, youth or men who are victims of family violence.

As funding is limited to capital assistance, sponsor groups must obtainthe assurance of operating assistance for emergency shelters. For second stagehousing, occupants are expected to make modest contributions to offset theproject's operating costs.

Eligible repairs/work are those required to:

bring existing emergency shelters and second stage housing up to health and safety standards
permit accessibility for disabled occupants
provide adequate and safe program and play areas for children
ensure appropriate security for occupants.

What assistance is available?

The assistance is in the form of a fully forgivable loan which does not have to be repaid provided the owneradheres to the conditions of the program.

New Development : For newly developed projects, CMHC may contribute up to 100% of a project’s capital cost. This assistance must be secured by a forgivable 15-year mortgage.
Renovation: The maximum loan for renovation varies with the number of existing units/bed-units within the project and its location.

Loan Assistance available according to geographic location

	Maximum loan per unit/bed unit
Zone 1 Southern Areas of Canada	$24,000
Zone 2 Northern Areas of Canada	$28,000*
Zone 3 NWT, Yukon, Labrador and Northern Quebec	$36,000*

* A 25 % supplement in assistance is available in remote areas.

IMPORTANT: Work carried out before the loan is approved in writing is not eligible for funding under this program.

Other CMHC programs are available to assist eligible Canadians with repairs to substandard housing, accessibility modifications and adaptations for persons with disabilities and seniors.

In some areas of Canada (excluding on-reserve), funding for these or similar programs is provided jointly by the Government of Canada, and the provincial or territorial government. In these areas, the provincial or territorial housing agency may be responsible for delivery of the programs. Program variations may also exist in these areas.