Sault Ste. Marie awarded $600K after exceeding housing target

What happened

• Sault Ste. Marie will receive $600,000 from the Building Faster Fund after breaking ground on 302 new homes in 2025, exceeding its provincial housing target by 101%.

By the numbers

• 302 new homes broke ground in 2025.
• $600,000 awarded to the City of Sault Ste. Marie through the third round of the Building Faster Fund.
• Building Faster Fund: three-year program, up to $1.2 billion (announced in August 2023).
• Deadline to spend awarded funds extended to 2028.
• Provincial context from the release: Jan–May 2026 saw 26,084 housing starts (+17.2% year over year) and 13,599 rental starts (+94.9% year over year).
• Other programs mentioned: Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program (over $37 million for District of Algoma, including over $15 million for Sault Ste. Marie), Development Charge Reduction Program, and a planned HST removal on new homes from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2027 (up to $130,000 savings for some homebuyers).

Why it matters

• The award gives the city money for housing-enabling infrastructure and community needs, supporting more homes getting built faster and local growth.

Who said it

• The release is from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and includes comments from the provincial minister and the city mayor.