Orillia is gearing up for decades of growth, with the city projecting its population will climb to nearly 49,000 by 2051 — a pace that will require roughly 7,000 new housing units, according to the City of Orillia's housing webpage.
To meet that demand, the city says it needs a wider mix of housing for students, families, seniors and residents living on limited incomes, and it has assembled a set of tools to get those units built.
At the centre of the effort is the Housing Accelerator Fund, a Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation program. Orillia was awarded $4.5 million to carry out nine housing initiatives between January 2025 and December 2027, all aimed at boosting the local housing supply.
Per-door grants for affordable builders
Some of that federal money flows through the city's Per Door Grant program, a competitive funding stream that supports primary applicants that are non-profit or charitable organizations. The 2026 round made up to $1.1 million available to help cover capital costs tied to new construction.
Successful applicants must commit to keeping their units affordable for at least 25 years. The city says grant amounts are flexible and based on the number, depth and duration of affordable units proposed, with preference given to developments that are well-located, energy-efficient and inclusive in design.
Pre-applications for the 2026 intake were accepted from May 1 to May 31. Eligible applicants were then invited to complete a detailed grant application, with eligibility and scoring laid out in the city's Per Door Grant Guidelines and Grant Program Score Card.
Other incentives and faster approvals
Beyond the per-door program, the city offers grants and incentives through its Affordable Housing Incentives Policy. Developers and organizations can apply through the Application for Financial Assistance for Affordable Housing.
The city has also simplified approvals for new development and says it supports responsible conversions of properties into multi-unit homes, an approach that can add rental stock within existing neighbourhoods.
Planning guided by local data
Orillia has an approved Affordable Housing Action Plan, and city staff work with a local Affordable Housing Working Group on housing needs. Policy decisions are informed by the city's Housing Needs Assessment.
The County of Simcoe is also a partner. The county and the city collaborate on the Housing Attainable Supply Action Plan, and additional housing resources are posted on the county's housing webpage.
Residents can also look to CMHC's Ontario Housing Design Catalogue, which offers pre-approved designs the city points to as a resource for builders pursuing new housing projects.
For now, the 2026 pre-application window has closed, but the city encourages organizations planning affordable housing to review the grant guidelines and watch for future intake opportunities as the Housing Accelerator Fund initiatives continue through the end of 2027.
