Attainable Homes Calgary has made a measurable difference for hundreds of families over the years

As anyone on, or looking to get on, the property ladder can attest, the issue of housing in Alberta is increasingly problematic. Rising costs and decreasing inventory make it difficult to find a path to home ownership or even find a suitable rental. In 2009, The City of Calgary created Attainable Homes Calgary (AHC) to address this growing issue. AHC leverages low-cost land and streamlined building designs to create homes that are then offered to clients at below market rates.

Jayden Tait is the president and CEO of AHC.

 “AHC is driven to create below market priced housing for hardworking Calgarians,” Tait explains. “We create homes through our attainable rental and homeownership. There are thousands of Calgarians who are spending more than 30 per cent of their gross income on shelter. According to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), as a general rule of thumb in the industry across Canada, if you are in that situation you are in an unaffordable housing position. Therefore, the problem we seek to solve is providing housing at a rent rate or price where people are generally not spending more than 30 per cent of their income on shelter.” 

To achieve this goal, a variety of factors must be implemented, including what Tait describes as, “Managing the risks that block access to the core three ingredients of the affordable housing formula: land, money and certainty (of permit approval and production).”

What makes AHC efficient and sustainable is a dedicated team, a phenomenal board of directors and a very clear vision.

“We have a very clear mandate – create affordable housing on development-ready land for the City of Calgary and its citizens. It is this clear mandate, strong support from the City of Calgary and other levels of government and the team’s unified efforts in achieving the outcome of dignified shelter for every Canadian that energizes us to get results of good buildings built fast,” Tait says.

What also sets this program apart is that it addresses both of the paths to shelter: owning and renting.

Under AHC’s home ownership model, eligible buyers purchase a home below market price. The stipulation is that the home must be sold back to ACH at a later date for the same price for which it was purchased. This model allows the homebuyer to earn equity and get on the property ladder, making it much easier and affordable to purchase another home in the future. When the house is returned to AHC, it is available to be purchased again by another family earning a moderate-income.

The attainable rental program provides units for hardworking employed Calgarians at rent rates below market.

“In 2025, AHC completed and leased 70 rental units at 1010 6 Ave SW,” Tait shares, “and completed the manufacturing, shipping and stacking of 84 factory built units at 1007 6 Ave SW.” As with many programs of this nature, funding and access to capital are vitally important. Tait says firmly, “ATB cares about our mandate and ATB is our lender. Without them, there is no money – and therefore no housing.”

AHC also notes, with gratitude, that the efforts among ATB; CMHC; the City of Calgary and the partners who support the mortgage, building, insurance, legal and development components are all vital in the mission of attainable housing in Calgary.

The impact on locals has been, and continues to be, huge. Not only are real clients the ones shown on the AHC website, their testimonials speak to how the ownership and rental programs change lives.

Older couple Timothy and Maureen say of their ownership path, “At our age, we thought we would never be able to be homeowners. However, thanks to Attainable, we are loving our new life while building equity for our future. Anyone has the chance to be a homeowner with help from Attainable Homes.”

Another great example comes from a mother named Deanne, who says, “I cannot express how grateful my daughter and I are every day when we walk up the front steps of our home. I know I would never be where I am today without Attainable Homes, and I will always be grateful to the amazing team!”

AHC is a great example of Alberta’s entrepreneurial spirit, abundance of care for its people, social programs and community focus. With nearly two decades of helping ensure housing for all, where does AHC go now?

The future, Tait assures, is very bright: “500 factory built affordable units built and occupied every year!”

To learn more online Attainable Homes Calgary, visit their website.