Second round of funding rewarding municipalities for progress toward housing targets
As part of its record-breaking investments in housing-enabling infrastructure, the Ontario government is awarding the City of Kingston $3,200,000 through the second round of the Building Faster Fund, which provides funding to municipalities that achieve at least 80 per cent of their provincially designated housing targets. Kingston broke ground on 966 new homes in 2024, which works out to 145 per cent of its 2024 housing target. This funding will help the City of Kingston build more homes and community infrastructure and supports the province’s plan to protect Ontario by investing in infrastructure to support economic growth and keep workers on the job.
“I applaud Mayor Paterson for stepping up to deliver the homes that Kingston needs,” said Rob Flack, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “Our government has a plan to protect Ontario by creating good-paying jobs and building the homes that communities need to be competitive. Working with our municipal partners, we are making historic infrastructure investments and giving them the tools to build and make the dream of homeownership happen for more families.”
Announced in August 2023, the Building Faster Fund is a three-year, $1.2 billion program that is designed to encourage municipalities to speed up municipal approval processes and get more homes built faster. The fund rewards municipalities that make significant progress against their targets by providing funding for housing-enabling and community-enabling infrastructure.
“Kingston has once again surpassed its annual provincial housing target, demonstrating our ongoing commitment to addressing the housing needs of our growing community,” said Bryan Paterson, Mayor of Kingston. “Investments like the one announced today help us stay focused on facilitating housing construction that is both affordable and accessible. Thank you to the province’s continued partnership and recognition that building strong, inclusive communities takes collaboration. Programs like the Building Faster Fund remain vital in supporting our shared goals.”
The Ontario government is also helping to speed up the construction of new homes and infrastructure, including by streamlining development processes and reducing costs in close partnership with municipalities, through the Protect Ontario by Building Faster and Smarter Act 2025.
Quick Facts
- From January to May 2025, Ontario saw 6,977 rental starts, an increase of 25 per cent compared to the same period in 2024. This is the second-highest level of rental starts on record for this time of the year, after 2023.
- To help make way for more housing opportunities and support growing communities, the government is also extending the time that municipalities have to spend funds awarded through the Building Faster Fund to 2028.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
