Glossary

PFAH
INVESTOR HUB

General Definitions 


Affordable housing: Given the variety of definitions used across Canada, Front Door adopts a flexible approach to defining affordable housing. Rather than applying a single national benchmark, we ask that all project submissions include a clear description of how affordability is defined within their specific context. This may include: 

  • Rent as a percentage of tenant income (e.g., <30%) 

  • Percentage of Average Market Rent (e.g., 80% of AMR) 

  • Ownership structure (e.g. non-market) 

  • Deep affordability thresholds (e.g., geared-to-income units) 

  • Other locally or culturally relevant criteria 


Transitional housing: Housing that provides short- to medium-term accommodation designed to bridge the gap between homelessness or crisis situations and stable, long-term housing. Many include integrated supports. 


Non-market housing: Housing that is not provided through the private, profit-driven market. Instead, it is developed, owned, and managed by governments, non-profits, or co-operatives. This includes social housing, co-op housing, community land trusts, and some forms of supportive housing. Non-market projects ensure secure, long-term, affordable housing for people who cannot access adequate housing in the private rental or ownership market. 


Mixed-market housing: A development that includes a blend housing types or affordability levels, such as market rate, below-market, and deeply affordable units. Mixed-market projects are designed to promote economic integration and sustainable communities by housing a diversity of residents. In this context, ownership may rest with the private sector or be structured through nonprofit–private partnerships, where a subset of units is leased or owned by a nonprofit, or the nonprofit provides support services to a subset of tenants. 


P4 partners: P4 partners are the diverse stakeholders engaged through Partners for Affordable Housing to advance investment in affordable housing. This includes: 

  • Non-profit housing providers Public sector partners (e.g., federal or provincial government, municipalities, housing agencies) 

  • Private sector partners (e.g., private developers, social impact investors, financial institutions) 

  • Philanthropic individuals, organizations and foundations 

Project Category 

  • Construction: Building new affordable housing units, renovating existing affordable housing units, or converting non-residential buildings into affordable housing. 

  • Acquisition: The purchase of land or buildings for the purpose of providing affordable housing. 

  • Rental assistance: Financial or programmatic support that helps tenants afford their housing. This may include direct rent subsidies as well as tenant support services such as case management, employment supports, or wraparound services. 

Primary Population 

Note: Many individuals and households may identify with more than one population category—such as newcomers who are also seniors or Indigenous people accessing mental health services. While we categorize primary populations for clarity, we recognize and respect that these identities and needs can overlap, and encourage thoughtful consideration of intersectional factors when submitting projects.  

  • Women and children: Includes survivors of violence, single mothers, and families. 

  • Indigenous: First Nations, Metis, and Inuit households. 

  • Seniors: Adults typically aged 65+, including those aging in place. 

  • Disabilities: Individuals living with physical, developmental, intellectual, or cognitive disabilities. 

  • Veterans: Individuals who have served in the Canadian Armed Forces. 

  • Mental health: People experiencing mental health challenges, including addictions. 

  • Newcomers: Immigrants, refugees, or refugee claimants who have newly arrived in Canada. 

  • Youth: Individuals aged approximately 16-29, including those aging out of care or experiencing housing precarity. 

  • Homelessness: People experiencing any form of homelessness, including unsheltered, sheltered, or hidden homelessness. 

  • 2SLGBTQIA+: Two-Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual, and other gender and sexual identities. 

Urban or Rural 

  • Urban: Projects located in a population centre. A population centre has at least 1,000 residents and a population density of at least 400 persons per square kilometer. 

  • Rural: Projects located in sparsely populated regions or small communities (i.e. not defined as urban). 

Project Phase 

  • Strategic planning: This is the early-stage work that defines a project’s vision and goals. Activities may include community needs assessments, high-level planning, stakeholder engagement, and aligning with housing strategies or funding programs. 

  • Initial viability: At this phase, organizations are determining whether a project idea can become real. This may include feasibility studies, land exploration, financial modeling, or early discussions with municipalities and funders. 

  • Pre-development: Pre-development includes all the work needed to prepare for construction. This can involve zoning, permits, site design, legal agreements, and applying for capital funding.  

  • Development: This phase refers to the active construction or physical renovation of housing.  

  • Operating: The housing is built. Activities include rental assistance, tenant intake, property management, and delivery of any on-site support services. Projects in this phase may still be scaling or reporting on impact.