DESCRIPTION
Welcome Place is a mixed-use affordable housing and community hub led by the Saskatoon Open Door Society (SODS). The project envisions a 14-storey building with 100 rental units, designed to support newcomers, low-income families, and individuals seeking housing stability. At street level, Welcome Place will feature community-serving commercial spaces such as a small grocer, medical clinic, financial services, and other essential amenities that improve daily access and economic mobility. SODS’ program and administrative offices will be integrated on-site, providing language training, employment support, childcare, youth programming, and community engagement in one accessible location. By combining housing, services, and community infrastructure, Welcome Place strengthens social inclusion, reduces barriers for newcomers, and contributes to a more welcoming and resilient Saskatoon.
DETAILS
Affordability Framework
The Welcome Place project follows an affordability framework aligned with CMHC, City of Saskatoon, and emerging Build Canada Homes program requirements. Residential units are modeled at below-market rent levels, generally targeting 80% of Average Market Rent (AMR) and lower, with a mix of deeply affordable, low-income, and near-market units. Rents are policy-capped rather than market-driven, supporting long-term housing stability for newcomer and low-income households.
Target Completion Date
December 2028
Total Project Cost
$75,000,000
Total Units
100
Affordable Units
100
Populations Served
Newcomers
Project Funding
Funding Required
We are requesting non-repayable capital funds as part of the project’s mixed funding model. Specifically, we are seeking government grants and contributions toward the capital cost of the Welcome Place development. These funds will support construction of a 14-storey, 100-unit affordable housing and community hub. Provincial and municipal capital contributions are a key portion of the project’s overall financing structure.
Funds Raised
To date, Saskatoon Open Door Society has secured a $5.6 million capital allocation from the City of Saskatoon’s Housing Accelerator Fund for Welcome Place. In addition, the project’s funding and financing model has been structured and tested using CMHC viability tools. While remaining government contributions, capital campaign funds, and program-related capital are still in progress, the current model reflects an estimated 49% non-repayable/equity share (including HAF, anticipated provincial/federal programs, capital campaign contributions, and owner equity) and approximately 51% long-term CMHC-tested financing. The tested financing structure meets required debt coverage ratios under current CMHC program parameters, confirming financial viability at this stage.
Use of funds
Requested capital funds will be used to support hard construction costs and associated project delivery requirements for Welcome Place, a 14-storey, 100-unit affordable housing and community hub. These funds will directly contribute to reducing overall project debt, allowing rents to remain below market and aligned with affordability policy targets. The expected impact includes increasing Saskatoon’s supply of affordable housing, improving housing stability for newcomer and low-income households, and enabling co-located community services that support economic mobility, social inclusion, and long-term settlement outcomes.
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