What is Front Door: Canada’s First Affordable Housing Project Directory?
Front Door is a centralized, technology-driven directory that connects affordable housing providers with funders and investors. It acts as a matchmaking service, streamlining the flow of capital into community-led affordable housing solutions across Canada.
Who can use it?
Housing Providers: Nonprofit and community-based organizations, Indigenous governments, housing co-operatives, charities, and municipally-owned corporations.
Funders and Investors: Philanthropic foundations, impact investors, community foundations, credit unions, and other socially minded investors.
Government and Sector Partners: Local and provincial governments, government agencies, community housing sector organizations, and researchers.
Why use Front Door?
Front Door is designed to make it easier to connect, fund, and deliver affordable housing projects across Canada. Here’s why it matters for you:
Housing Providers: Showcase your projects to a national network of philanthropic, public, and private investors. Connect with potential partners to deliver affordable housing.
Funders and Investors: Access a curated pipeline of high-impact affordable housing projects that align with your mission and priorities.
Government and Sector Partners: Leverage real-time data on housing projects to inform evidence-based policy, increase collaboration, and strengthen housing strategies.
How does Front Door work?
You must create an account to access Front Door. As we vet membership, please contact us to create your account.
For Providers: You will then be able to submit your housing projects (link). Funders can view, assess, and connect with your project.
For Funders: You will then be able to browse a curated list of high-impact housing projects that align with your funding priorities. Connect with Partners for Affordable Housing to discuss potential options and move forward with next steps.
How do I create an account?
Please contact us to create your account.
What types of projects are eligible?
Front Door supports non-market housing projects, including permanent, transitional, and temporary/emergency housing. Eligible projects are typically categorized within the following focus areas:
First Mile: Projects seeking support for early-stage development activities that advance affordable housing concepts toward readiness. This includes feasibility and due diligence work, pre-development planning, site acquisition preparation, early design, and other activities that strengthen a project’s viability and funding readiness.
Last Mile: Projects in advanced stages of development that require capital or coordinated support to reach construction completion or occupancy. This may include construction and acquisition financing, affordability top-ups, and targeted investments that help overcome final funding gaps or delivery challenges.
Tenant Stability: Projects or initiatives focused on strengthening long-term housing stability for residents once housing is operational. Eligible activities may include rental assistance, tenant supports, service integration, and operational investments that improve housing quality, retention, and affordability.
Projects may be at any stage of development, from early strategic planning through construction and ongoing operations.
Projects can be at any stage, from early strategic planning through construction and ongoing operations. If you are unsure whether your project qualifies, please contact us.
What information do providers need to submit a project?
Providers will be asked to share key project details, including:
Project description and objectives
Location and populations served
Funding needs and timeline
Affordability metrics
For support with your project submission, please contact us.
How can I update my information?
Please reach out to Partners for Affordable Housing to request an update to your information.
Is there a cost to participate?
No. Participation in Front Door is free. The goal is to remove barriers and encourage wide adoption by both providers and funders.
However, when Partners for Affordable Housing secures a donation to a listed project, a sliding-scale administrative fee applies. The administrative fee is charged to the donor and deducted from the gross donation amount. No fee applies to funds raised independently without Partners’ involvement.
How will I know if a funder is interested in my project?
When a funder expresses interest, Partners for Affordable Housing staff will connect with you directly to discuss next steps, share additional information, and explore funding opportunities.
I submitted a project. Now what?
Partners will reach out should we require any additional information or if a funder expresses interest. Please ensure that your data is kept up-to-date – if anything changes, please contact us.
What are the key terms and conditions for participating in Front Door?
Front Door is a free, national platform designed to support transparency, coordination, and funding readiness for non-market housing projects. Participation does not guarantee funding and does not constitute an endorsement of any project. Participating organizations are expected to:
Keep project information current: Organizations are responsible for ensuring that all project information is accurate and updated as material details change, including scope, budgets, timelines, and funding needs.
Use the platform appropriately: Front Door may not be used for business development, commercial promotion, or fee-for-service marketing. Project listings and platform access must be used solely to advance the listed housing projects.
Understand the fee structure on funder introductions: When Partners for Affordable Housing secures a contribution to a listed project, an administrative fee is applied to the funder on a sliding scale. No fee applies to funds raised independently without Partners’ involvement.
Full terms and conditions are provided in the Front Door Participation Agreement.
Who helped shape Front Door?
Front Door was developed through extensive engagement with stakeholders across the housing ecosystem.
We’ve consulted with:
Funders (philanthropic, corporate, and community-based)
Non-profit housing providers across provinces
Local, provincial, and federal government bodies
Intermediary organizations and sector experts
Their insights have directly shaped everything from platform features to project criteria to how information is presented. This is truly a co-created tool, built with, and for, the sector. We are continuing to refine the platform based on your feedback.
How can I provide feedback on Front Door?
We welcome feedback at every stage. You can share your thoughts through our online feedback survey.