Innovation and Research CMHC Housing Research Award Program APPLICANT GUIDE

Innovation and Research CMHC Housing Research Award Program APPLICANT GUIDE

TABLE OF CONTENTS SECTION 1 GENERAL INFORMATION.... 4 1.1 Overview of Section 1...4 1.2 Initiative Introduction...4 1.3 CMHC Background....4 1.4 National Housing Strategy (NHS) Overview...5 1.5 Initiative Overview...5 1.6 Application Intake Process (AIP)....6 SECTION 2 APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS... 6 2.1 Overview of Section 2...6 2.2 Submission Instructions and Deadline (Mandatory)...6 2.2.1 Language of Application...6 2.2.2 Delivery Instructions and Deadline...6 2.2.3 Application Opening, Verification Period, and Deadlines...6 2.2.4 Enquiries....7 2.2.5 Applicant Contact...7 2.2.6 Offering Period (Mandatory)...7 2.2.7 Changes to Application...7 2.2.8 No Liability...7 2.2.9 Verification of Application...8 2.2.10 Corporation Identification...8 2.2.11 CMHC S Obligations....8 SECTION 3 APPLICANTS GUIDE... 8 3.1 Overview of Section 3...8 3.2 Where to Apply....8 3.3 Application Form Section A: General Information.................................8 General Information...8 Team Members...9 3.4 Application Form Section B: Eligibility Criteria...9 NHS Priority Populations...9 3.5 Application Form Section C: Rationale and Evidence Statement...10 3.6 Application Form Section D: Implementation Strategy...10 3.7 Application Form Section E: Letter(s) of Recommendation...11 3.8 Application Form Section F: Curriculum Vitae...11 3.9 Application Form Section G: Checklist...........................................12 3.10 Important Considerations...12 2

SECTION 4 SELECTION PROCESS... 12 4.1 Overview of Section 4...12 4.2 Selection Process...12 4.3 Evaluation Criteria...13 SECTION 5 CONDITIONS OF FUNDING... 14 5.1 Overview of Section 5...14 5.2 Condition of Funding....14 APPENDIX 1 NATIONAL HOUSING STRATEGY PRIORITY AREAS... 15 3

Use of Information & Disclaimer: Information contained in this Applicants Guide (Guide) is proprietary information to CMHC. It is made available and shall be used for the sole purpose of providing applicants with sufficient information to prepare responses to the Demonstration application process. You shall not make any other use of the information contained in this Guide. SECTION 1 GENERAL INFORMATION 1.1 Overview of Section 1 The purpose of this section is to provide general information about the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) Housing Research Awards program. 1.2 Initiative Introduction The CMHC Housing Research Awards (hereafter referred to as Awards ) highlight key accomplishments and provides recognition to world-class housing research. The Awards recognise Canadian housing researchers and celebrate their achievements in research, research training, knowledge mobilization and outreach activities. These awards are designed to build on and sustain Canada s research-based knowledge culture across all fields related to housing, including social sciences and humanities, health and technology. Awards will be provided to the best applications that demonstrate research excellence and innovation and provide evidence of impact in areas of research and knowledge translation gaps related to the priority areas of action (see Appendix A) for the National Housing Strategy. The Awards form part of a suite of programs that encourage housing research, which also include scholarships, demonstrations and solution labs, a research fund for stakeholders; and, an academic network. 1.3 CMHC Background CMHC is the Government of Canada s National Housing Agency, with a mandate to help Canadians meet their housing needs. As Canada s authority on housing, we contribute to the stability of the housing market and financial system, provide support for Canadians in housing need, and offer objective housing research and advice to Canadian governments, consumers and the housing industry. Prudent risk management, strong corporate governance and transparency are cornerstones of our operations. CMHC is a Crown Corporation, with a Board of Directors, reporting to Parliament through the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, and Minister responsible for Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos. CMHC has approximately 2,000 employees located at its National Office in Ottawa, and at five Business Centres throughout Canada: Atlantic; Quebec; Ontario; British Columbia; and Prairies & Territories. 4

1.4 National Housing Strategy (NHS) Overview Affordable housing is a cornerstone of inclusive communities. It helps to strengthen the middle class and grow the economy. Canada s first ever National Housing Strategy is a 10-year, $40-billion plan that will give more Canadians a place to call home and will create a new generation of housing in Canada. Through the National Housing Strategy, the federal government is re-engaging in affordable housing and bringing together the public, private and non-profit sectors to ensure more Canadians have a place to call home. The goal of this historic strategy is to make sure Canadians across the country can access housing that meets their needs and that they can afford. To achieve this goal, the strategy will first focus on the most vulnerable Canadians. The NHS will create livable communities where families thrive, children learn and grow, and their parents have the stability and opportunities they need to succeed. It will spearhead innovative new housing research, data and demonstration projects to fill gaps in our knowledge, share the best ideas and shape the future of housing policy in Canada. It also creates new opportunities for the federal government to innovate through partnerships with the community housing sector, co-operative movement, private sector, and research community. More information on the NHS can be found at https://www.placetocallhome.ca/pdfs/canada-national-housing-strategy.pdf For more information on the National Housing Strategy, visit https://www.placetocallhome.ca/ 1.5 Initiative Overview There are four Awards that are to be provided annually. CMHC President s Medal for Outstanding Housing Research ($15,000) The President s Research Excellence Award is CMHC s highest research honour. The Award is given to an individual or team whose research has masterfully increased knowledge or understanding in a priority areas of the National Housing Strategy. The research s outcomes must have led to demonstrable impact within and/or beyond the academic community. Each year, CMHC s President chooses a priority area of action as the theme, which is the focus of award for that year. For 2018, the chosen theme is Social Inclusion. See Appendix 1 for more information. Gold Roof Award for Housing Research Excellence ($10,000) The Gold Roof Award for Housing Research Excellence is given to an individual or team whose research has masterfully increased knowledge or understanding in one or more of the other National Housing Strategy priority areas of the National Housing Strategy that are not included as part of the theme for the CMHC President s Medal for the year (see Appendix 1). The research s outcomes must have led to demonstrable impact within and/or beyond the academic community. Gold Roof Award for Knowledge to Action ($10,000) The Gold Rood Award for Knowledge to Action recognises research that closes the gap between what is known from research and what is done with that knowledge in the housing sector and the housing service community. Its aim is to acknowledge innovative initiatives that have made outstanding contributions to housing and that are leading the way in best practice applications. North Star Travel Award for Northern or Remote Research (Up to $5,000) The CMHC Travel Bursary for Northern or Remote Research provides funding to travel to northern or remote areas of Canada in order to undertake housing research or field work in a National Housing Strategy priority area. CMHC supports research that aims to build knowledge and fill research gaps on northern or remote housing topics from all disciplines and in multidisciplinary fields. 5

1.6 Application Intake Process (AIP) A call out for applications will launch May, 2018. The application portal is on CMHC s website. By submitting an application, applicants agree to be bound by the terms of this application, and the terms of the application that they submit. SECTION 2 APPLICATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS 2.1 Overview of Section 2 The purpose of Section 2 is to inform the applicant about CMHC s procedures and rules pertaining to the application process. This application guide provides information, for the benefit of applicants prior to submission of their applications, to assist the applicant in ensuring that their application response is complete and includes all the mandatory requirements (as indicated below). Non-compliance with a mandatory requirement will result in the application being eliminated from further consideration. 2.2 Submission Instructions and Deadline (Mandatory) 2.2.1 Language of Application Applications and accompanying materials may be submitted in English or French. 2.2.2 Delivery Instructions and Deadline The application form located on the CMHC web portal is the platform for submitting the Awards application, including all supporting documentation. The deadline to apply is 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 31, 2018. The time of delivery for the purposes of this section is deemed to be the time recorded by the CMHC system receiving the application, and not the time the application was sent by the applicant. Submission of supplementary documentation (e.g. Curriculum Vitae, Letters of recommendation etc.) must be submitted along with the application through the same application intake portal. Upon receipt of applications, an automated confirmation will be issued from CMHC to the sender s e-mail address. It is strongly recommended that applicants follow up with the contact named in Section 2.2.4 if they not receive a confirmation within 30 minutes of submission. Only applications submitted via the portal will be considered for further evaluation. 2.2.3 Application Opening, Verification Period, and Deadlines All applications received on or before the closing date and time specified below, will be opened and reviewed for verification by CMHC. If at that time, CMHC is unable to open an application, the applicant will be so advised and provided an opportunity to resubmit a version that can be opened within 2 hours of notification. 6

Your application must be submitted and received on or before the submission deadline set as: 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on July 31, 2018 Applications arriving late will be automatically rejected, and the sender will be so notified by e-mail. 2.2.4 Enquiries All questions regarding this application may be sent to the following contact information: CMHC Research Awards Officer Innovation-Research@cmhc-schl.gc.ca 1-800-668-2642 CMHC cannot guarantee a response to enquiries received less than seven (7) business days prior to the application deadline. 2.2.5 Applicant Contact The applicant identified in the application form shall be the primary contact for CMHC. In the case of a team application, one applicant will apply on behalf of the team to have one point of contact. The application package must include the CV for the lead applicant, as well as the CVs for any co-applicants. Only three letters of reference per application are accepted. If successful, the award will be provided in the name of all applicants and it will be up to the applicants to disburse as they see appropriate between co-applicants. Teams are ineligible for the North Star award. 2.2.6 Offering Period (Mandatory) The terms of the application shall remain valid for a period not to exceed one hundred and twenty (120) days following the application closing date. 2.2.7 Changes to Application Applicants are not permitted to include additions, deletions, make edits and changes to the application or attachments after it has been submitted. 2.2.8 No Liability While CMHC has made considerable efforts to ensure that the information in this application is accurate and complete, it is possible that errors may exist. The information is not guaranteed or warranted to be accurate by CMHC, nor is it necessarily comprehensive or exhaustive. CMHC will have no liability of any kind to applicants for losses or damages arising from any errors that may be found in the application, regardless of how the errors are caused. Applicants remain obliged to make their own investigation of relevant information and to form their own opinions and conclusions in respect of the matters addressed in this application. By submitting an application, applicants waive any claim or cause of action that they may have against CMHC or its representatives as a result of the conduct of this application process or any resulting award, except insofar as they have proof of willful misconduct on the part of CMHC or its representatives. Applicants agree that they will not bring a court action or institute any other proceedings against CMHC for damages arising from the conduct of this application or any resulting award. This section is intended to be a complete waiver of the applicant s right to claim damages subject to the limited exception noted above. 7

2.2.9 Verification of Application CMHC reserves the right to conduct such investigation as it deems appropriate to verify the contents of the application. 2.2.10 Corporation Identification Applicants agree that they will not make any use whatsoever of CMHC s name, logo or other official marks without the express written consent of CMHC. 2.2.11 CMHC S Obligations By issuing this call for applications and accepting applications, CMHC assumes the obligation of conducting the process in a fair and transparent manner. CMHC has no obligation to compensate any applicant for work done for the purposes of this application. Timely and correct submission of the Award application in the specified delivery platform is the sole responsibility of the applicant. All risks and consequences of a failure to submit an application to CMHC are borne by the applicant. CMHC will not assume those risks or responsibilities under any circumstances. In addition, in the event that CMHC or the review committee determine that no application merits the award in any given year, it will not be awarded. SECTION 3 APPLICANTS GUIDE 3.1 Overview of Section 3 The purpose of Section 3 is to provide guidance to the applicant in filling out the application form. 3.2 Where to Apply The CMHC Housing Research Awards program involves an on-line application intake process; the application form is located on CMHC s website. There is one application for the President s Medal and the Gold Roof awards while there is another application for the North Star award. The application must be submitted in accordance with the conditions and requirements (as set out below) in order to be considered for evaluation by CMHC. In the event that it is not possible to submit the application through an on-line application intake process (e.g. remote without internet access; need application in an alternate format such as Braille), potential applicants must reach out to CMHC (see 2.2.4) at least twenty (20) business days before the application deadline to see whether an alternative arrangement can be accommodated. 3.3 Application Form Section A: General Information General Information Please provide general information about yourself, your institution or organization and contact information. 8

Team Members In the case of a team application, one applicant will apply on behalf of the team to have one point of contact. The application package must include the CV for the lead applicant, as well as the CVs of any co-applicants. Only three letters of reference per application are accepted. If successful, the award will be provided in the name of all applicants and it will be up to the applicants to disburse as they see appropriate between co-applicants. Teams are ineligible for the North Star award. 3.4 Application Form Section B: Eligibility Criteria In this section, the applicant is to provide information that would verify the eligibility to the program. To be eligible to apply to the President s Medal or the Gold Roof Awards, you must: Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada at the time of application; Be an active housing-related researcher; Be in good standing with CMHC; Not have applied for another CMHC research award this year (applicants may only apply to one CMHC Research Award per year); and, Research must be related to one or more of the following National Housing Strategy priority areas of action, depending on the award: (see Appendix 1 for more information) CMHC President s Medal for Outstanding Research: Social Inclusion Gold Roof Award for Housing Research Excellence: Pertain to other areas of priority outlined in Appendix 1 (but not relate to social inclusion). Gold Roof Award for Knowledge to Action: Pertain to at least one of the six priority areas of action. To be eligible to apply to the North Star Travel Award, you must: Be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada at the time of application; Be a registered, full-time college or university student (graduate, and post-graduate) at an accredited post-secondary institution in Canada. Part-time/Contract faculty not employed full-time are also eligible to apply, but must be affiliated with an accredited post-secondary institution; Be in good standing with CMHC; and, Research must be related to housing in Canada s north or remote areas*. * For the purposes of the CMHC Housing Research Awards, Canada s north includes the three Territories and the northern provincial areas from British Columbia to Labrador. The concept of remoteness applies to communities that are removed from major population, service centres, roads or transportation and/or general amenities. NHS Priority Populations If relevant please indicate which NHS priority population(s) your project targets. Please see Appendix 1 for details. 9

3.5 Application Form Section C: Rationale and Evidence Statement For the President s Medal or the Gold Roof Awards In this section, the applicant is to provide a brief statement (up to 6,000 characters) including: Brief summary of the work that is being put forward for consideration; Brief summary of the applicant s overall contribution to their field of research or work; Explanation/demonstration/evidence to how research demonstrates: i. Research excellence and innovation research presents an original, innovative contribution to the body of housing research (e.g. innovative research design, approach, method or new ideas or systems) related to one or more of the NHS priority areas for action. ii. Demonstrated research impact evidence that outcomes of research has the potential for or demonstrates significant and positive impact on housing knowledge, fills gaps or develops expertise in one or more of the NHS priority areas for action. For the North Star Travel Award In this section, the applicant is to provide a brief statement (up to 3,000 characters), including: Northern or Remote Canadian location: Define the location where you plan to conduct your research. Give the names of surrounding towns or specific communities, or the latitudes and longitudes where research is expected to take place or is of focus. Research and Knowledge gaps: Describe what research or knowledge gaps your research is addressing. Explain how your research will benefit research on housing in northern or remote communities. Outreach/Interaction with northern communities: If applicable, describe your plans to incorporate and involve northerners in your research. Applicants whose research involves human participation must have received research ethics approval from their institution for their proposed research and be able to produce evidence of approval. N.B., In all cases, as the review committee is multidisciplinary, it is recommended that applications be written for non-specialists and a non-technical audience. 3.6 Application Form Section D: Implementation Strategy For the President s Medal or the Gold Roof Awards In no more than 3,000 characters, outline the proposed approach for promoting and celebrating the impact and outcomes of the researcher s or research s achievements. Elements of a strong knowledge dissemination strategy include: purpose; target audiences; objectives; key messages; promotional activities; budget; and an evaluation plan (how the effectiveness of each activity will be measured) 10

For the North Star Travel Award In no more than 2,000 characters, provide an overview of the travel expenses that you expect to incur undertaking your research in a northern or remote location(s). This outline should include a budget/breakdown of costs and planned dates of travel and locations. Travel does not need to be booked as travel costs can vary depending on booking. Please note: Travel already completed or that will occur before November 2018 is ineligible for consideration. All travel-related costs must comply with the Treasury Board Travel Directive and applicants must select the most economical means of travel when booking transportation or accommodations. Eligible expenses include travel and/or accommodation for research project or fieldwork, as well as disability accommodation costs (e.g. accessible transportation, interpreters, note takers). Ineligible expenses include subsistence costs (e.g. food, laundry), tuition or related fees; and, equipment or services considered a typical student expense (e.g. laptop, books). Up to $5,000 will be awarded for eligible expenses. 3.7 Application Form Section E: Letter(s) of Recommendation For the President s Medal or the Gold Roof Awards Applications must be accompanied by three (3) letters of recommendation (maximum two pages each, in PDF format) in support of the applicant. Referees must be established authorities in the field who do not have a personal relationship with the applicant. Letters must be dated and signed. Letters of support with multiple signatories will not be accepted. Letters must include the name of the applicant and the period of time and capacity in which the referee has known the applicant. Letters should also offer an overall assessment of the nominee s accomplishments, including evidence of how these achievements fulfil the evaluation criteria. Referees must send their letters to the applicant. They cannot be accepted by CMHC. For the North Star Travel Award Applications must include one (1) letter of recommendation (maximum two pages in PDF format) from the applicant s primary supervisor or department chair. Letters must include the name of the applicant and should include the period of time and capacity in which the referee has known the applicant. Letters should also offer an overall assessment of the applicant s research, including evidence of how it fulfils the evaluation criteria. Referee must send their letter of recommendation to the applicant. They cannot be accepted by CMHC. 3.8 Application Form Section F: Curriculum Vitae Please upload a CV (maximum five (5) pages) in PDF format that includes the following: Education Experience All publications Relevant distinctions and awards received Any other relevant experience If you are applying a team, please also upload the CVs of your team members (not applicable to the North Star Award). 11

3.9 Application Form Section G: Checklist Please ensure your application includes all the following. Incomplete applications will not be considered. For the President s Medal or the Gold Roof Awards 3 Letters of recommendation (PDF only) Curriculum Vitae (PDF only, maximum 5 pages) For the North Star Travel Award 1 Letter of recommendation (PDF only) Curriculum Vitae (PDF only, maximum 5 pages) Please do not include any additional material as it will not be assessed by the adjudication panel and will result in your application being excluded from consideration. 3.10 Important Considerations For 2018, application intake will begin spring 2018. Deadline to apply is 11:59pm (EST) on July 31, 2018. Anticipated notice of decision in fall 2018 with awards presentation in November 2018. Incomplete applications will not be accepted. Applications that include extra material not requested will not be accepted. All entries for the Awards must be made through the online submissions website. Mailed, emailed or faxed applications will not be accepted unless arrangement made under exceptional circumstances (see 3.2) Please note, in the event that CMHC or the review committee determine that no application merits the award in any given year, it will not be awarded. In all cases, as the review committees are multidisciplinary, it is strongly recommended that applications be written for non-specialists and a non-technical audience. SECTION 4 SELECTION PROCESS 4.1 Overview of Section 4 The purpose of Section 4 is to inform the applicant about the selection process once the applicant has applied. 4.2 Selection Process Applications are assessed in the subsequent months with an anticipated notice of decision in fall 2018 and award presentations to take place at the National Housing Conference to be held in November 2018. 12

CMHC will review applications to ensure applicants meet eligibility requirements and include supporting documentation. Applications will then be forwarded to a review committee, depending on the award: For the President s Medal and Gold Roof Awards: A multidisciplinary adjudication panel made up of distinguished individuals from academia, as well as the private, not-for-profit and public sectors, will review applications using a pre-established selection criteria. The adjudication panel could comprise of leaders in the housing field and sector in Canada, including researchers, decision-makers, previous award recipients, and/or people with lived experience. The adjudication panel is responsible for recommending award recipients to CMHC. CMHC reserves the right to select award recipients for the CMHC Housing Research Awards. Award funds must be used for activities that promote and extend the work being honoured. For the CMHC North Star Travel Award: A CMHC evaluation committee reviews all applications and recommends the recipient of the award. Up to $5,000 will be awarded for eligible expenses. 4.3 Evaluation Criteria For the CMHC s President s Medal for Outstanding Research and the Gold Roof Award for Housing Research Excellence: Criteria 1: Research Excellence and Innovation (40%) Criteria 2: Research Impact (30%) Criteria 3: Knowledge Dissemination (20%) Criteria 4: Presentation (10%) For the Gold Roof Award for Knowledge to Action: Criteria 1: Research Excellence and Innovation (30%) Criteria 2: Research Impact (40%) Criteria 3: Knowledge Dissemination (20%) Criteria 4: Presentation (10%) For the CMHC North Star Travel Award: Criteria 1: Relevance to housing in Canadian northern or remote societies or communities and alignment to one or more National Housing Strategy areas of priority (15%) Criteria 2: Research Impact (40%): Evidence of how research will contribute to advancement of northern/remote housing research and knowledge Criteria 3: Strength of the applicant (20%): Demonstrated based on letter of support from sponsor; and Criteria 4: Presentation (25%): Clarity of the application. Clearly articulated. Appropriate budget justification. In all cases, each application will reviewed against the following review criteria. Entries are weighed individually, not against one another. Failure to provide sufficient evidence to demonstrate all selection criteria will weaken your application. 13

SECTION 5 CONDITIONS OF FUNDING 5.1 Overview of Section 5 The purpose of Section 5 is to inform the applicant about the conditions of funding, should the applicant be successful. 5.2 Condition of Funding Funding of the award is conditional on the successful award recipients signing a recipient award agreement, which will set out the terms and conditions of the award funding. Award funds must be used for activities that promote and extend the work being honoured. Successful award recipients will be expected to attend the National Housing Conference held in November to publicly receive the award (not applicable for the North Star Award). For the President s Medal and Gold Roof Awards: Award recipients will be required to submit a report within six (6) months of funding disbursement. This report should highlight how the award funds were used to promote and extend the work being honoured and an assessment of the knowledge dissemination strategy. For the CMHC North Star Travel Award: The Award recipient will be required to submit a report within one (1) month of travel. This report should include a breakdown of travel dates, locations and expenses. It should also highlight the results of the research undertaken and explain how the travel award was used to promote or extend the work being honoured. 14

APPENDIX 1 NATIONAL HOUSING STRATEGY PRIORITY AREAS An applicant s research or best practice must fit within the following priority areas: Priority Areas Housing for those in Greatest Need Improve housing and supports for the most vulnerable, including those who are homeless and those with distinct needs Improve affordability of housing for low-income households Community Housing Sustainability Improve sustainability of community housing and build capacity Indigenous Housing Improve housing conditions among First Nations, Métis and Inuit households Increase Indigenous autonomy and capacity for housing Northern Housing Improve housing conditions in Canada s territories Sustainable Housing and Communities Improve building performance, durability and energy efficiency of housing Increase housing options near transportation and transit, work, supports and services, as part of mixed income, age-friendly, accessible communities Balanced Supply of Housing Increase Canada s supply of rental housing Preserve and renew existing rental housing Meet evolving home ownership needs of Canadians Please go to cmhc-nhs.gc.ca for more detailed information regarding the NHS Priority Areas and the NHS Priority Population Groups. 15

cmhc-nhs.ca