Frequently Asked Questions

Affordable housing is housing that is offered at below market rates. Typically it is operated, funded, or created through government subsidies and funding programs. 

It is targeted for long-term occupancy by households that earn less than median income for their household size. Affordable homes are often located in different housing forms including apartment buildings, row housing, triplexes and duplexes. 

Right at Home Housing Society will own and operate all the new homes as long-term affordable rental units. There will be a mix of high-quality one- and three-bedroom units to provide homes for individuals and families. 

The units will not be sold as condos. 

Right at Home Housing Society is a community-based charitable organization in Edmonton that builds and manages high-quality affordable housing to meet the needs of Edmontonians.

Our story began in 1977 when Intermet Housing Society was established in Mill Woods to provide community-based housing solutions for low-income families. In 2016, Intermet Housing Society merged with the Edmonton Inner City Housing Society to become Right at Home.

With almost 50 years of experience developing affordable housing, we bring decades of experience, knowledge, and resources to provide affordable homes city-wide. Today, we provide safe, stable, and affordable homes to over 1,000 households across Edmonton, including nearly 600 children and their families. 

We believe that everyone has a right to housing, and that good housing strengthens the health and safety of individuals, families, and communities. We also acknowledge systemic inequality in housing opportunities and work from a foundation of empathy, inclusiveness, and understanding. 

We are committed to being good neighbours—ensuring our properties are well-managed, our developments are sensitive to their surroundings, and our investments strengthen the local communities where we build.

You’re in the right place! You can learn more about our story and our affordable homes on our website: rightathomehousing.com. We also share updates on Facebook and LinkedIn.

You'll find that our projects include duplexes, row houses, and apartments in neighbourhoods across Edmonton, providing housing and support to more than 1,000 Edmontonians. We’re proud of the work we do, and we’d love for you to learn more about us.

In 2009, the Edmonton Public School Board determined they did not need the site and declared it surplus. The site was then returned to the City and City Council later designated it for affordable housing in 2015, along with several other surplus school sites across the city to help increase housing choice and better integrate affordable housing into communities across the city with strong services and amenities.

In February 2025, City Council approved the sale or lease of this site and the other surplus school sites specifically for affordable housing. Following a competitive proposal process, Right at Home Housing Society was selected as the successful affordable housing provider, based on our track record of delivering safe, high-quality homes and fostering inclusive, family-oriented communities.

The need for affordable housing in Edmonton is growing rapidly. According to the 2024 Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Fall Rental Market Report, average three-bedroom row house rents in South Edmonton rose 14.3% in just one year, climbing from $1,529 to $1,747. One-bedroom townhouse rents increased even more sharply—34% between 2022 and 2024, from $1,023 to $1,372.

This project will offer homes at rents below typical market rates, capped at no more than 80% of the City’s Maximum Allowable Rental Rates (MARR). As Edmonton’s population grows, housing is becoming harder to find and more expensive. Right now, over 46,000 households are in core housing need, and that number is expected to rise to more than 56,000 by 2031. Renters are especially affected, with one in four struggling to find an affordable home. Over the next few years, thousands of one-bedroom and three-bedroom units will be needed across the city.

We are excited for the opportunity to create new, affordable homes that meet this growing demand and support the stability and well-being of individuals and families in a great neighbourhood.

The City of Edmonton designated the Kiniski Gardens surplus school site specifically for affordable housing. The City determined the site location and subdivided the site before it was listed for sale and we purchased it. 

Kiniski Gardens is a well-connected neighbourhood with nearby schools, parks, and transit, giving future residents easy access to daily amenities. Affordable housing here will give families and individuals the chance to live close to the services they need while contributing to a stable, welcoming community.

Yes, all homes will rented at 80% or less of the City of Edmonton's Maximum Allowable Rental Rates (MARR). All of the units will be rented at below market rates for 40 years. 

These affordability terms are set out in our agreement with the City of Edmonton when we purchased the site, as well as our other funding providers. 

No, this project will not include any drop-in or emergency shelter space. It will be permanent  affordable housing with long-term rental homes for individuals and families.

The new homes will be built on about 1.2 hectares, and the remaining 7.5 hectares that include the field space, Julia Kiniski School, Burnewood Community League Hall and Rink, and Kiniski Gardens Park will remain as is.

We value the relationships we have with community partners and look forward to the opportunities this project will create. We are excited about the possibility of being a good neighbour to Julia Kiniski School and becoming part of the Burnewood community.

As the design progresses, we will continue to gather input from all interested parties and will engage directly with key interested parties. We have met with the Edmonton Public School Board and the Burnewood Community League to share preliminary information about the project and we will continue communications with them as we move forward. 

We've been in contact with the Edmonton Public School Board to discuss the project as well as capacity at the Julia Kiniski School and will continue to do so throughout the project. When we are closer to the occupancy phase, we will discuss school capacity with the School Board again and take that into consideration when selecting our tenants. Our tenants have children at a variety of ages and it's likely many children living in the new homes will not be elementary school age.

These homes will be located near several schools, meaning many of the families and children who move in will be able to walk a short distance to and from school. Furthermore, not all children living in the homes will be elementary school age. This will help reduce additional vehicle traffic at drop-off and pick-up times.

The proposed vehicle entry location into the site is on 44 Street, not on 41 Avenue where the primary pick-up/drop-off zone is. This means that vehicles entering or leaving the site will not be doing so on the same street that the school is located.

Currently we plan to provide one dedicated parking stall for each in the central parking area, providing a 1:1 ratio of homes to parking. We also plan to include 8 visitor stalls, for a total of 76 stalls on site.

It’s also important to note that with other transportation options nearby—such as walking, cycling, and bus routes—there is a possibility that not every household will own a car or multiple cars. As a result, the project is not expected to significantly affect on-street parking in the neighbourhood.

There is still work ahead, including detailed design and gathering community feedback. We are aiming to start construction as soon as possible in order to meet the timelines set by the City of Edmonton and our funding partners. 

Right at Home has successfully completed more than 30 affordable housing projects across Edmonton, and we know what it takes to keep the process moving smoothly. If all goes as planned, construction will begin in spring 2026, with new residents moving in around winter 2027.

We are committed to being good neighbours throughout all stages of the project, including during construction. We will take all necessary precautions to prioritize safety, use mindful construction practices, and minimize impacts as much as possible. We also have a robust process to hire the construction company that will build the new homes , which prioritizes safe construction practices. 

The site will be securely fenced during all phases of construction and equipment will be primarily stored in the central parking area so that it is not located on the street or outside the site. 

We are in the process of completing the detailed design, but the new homes will be located in several townhouse buildings that are 3 storeys tall and arranged around a central parking area.  Designed as ground-oriented homes, the overall look and scale is intended to complement nearby housing.

The zoning bylaw requires new developments to include landscaping with trees and shrubs. Since the site has long been an open field, it currently has little vegetation beyond grass. This project will bring new greenery to the area where none exists today.

During the final design phase, we'll determine the types, locations, and number of trees and shrubs to be planted. What’s certain is that the project will enhance landscaping on the site, with new trees and shrubs that will take root and mature over time. 

All existing City trees located on boulevards and within the public right-of-way will be protected and remain in place.

We’re still a few years away from welcoming new residents, but we know there is strong demand for affordable, high-quality one- and three-bedroom homes. These homes are intended for households in need of affordable housing, meaning eligibility will be based on income verification and household size. We will use our comprehensive tenant matching process to identify prospective tenants whose needs and profiles align with both the new homes and the community. We always strive for our tenants to be positive contributions to the communities we provide homes in.

If you are interested in applying, we accept new tenants through our application process. Please visit our main website, which provides more information about the eligibility requirements and application process. If you would like more information, please contact Marisa at mredmond@rightathomehousing.com.

To gather input from the community, we hosted an open house on September 9, 2025 for community members to learn about the project and share their thoughts. At the open house and on this project website, we had a survey available for community members to fill out. What we heard from the community and how we incorporated their ideas were documented in a What We Heard Report. Check out the Homepage for more information. 

We created this website to provide background information for the open house. Going forward, you can find more information and project updates on the dedicated webpage on the Right At Home Housing Society website. 

If you would like to receive updates by email, please sign up here. 

Please also feel free to contact us at mredmond@rightathomehousing.com with any comments and questions and we will get back to you as soon as possible.