In its new Long-term Affordable Housing Strategy, the Ontario government said that it would develop a framework for a portable housing benefit program, beginning with a pilot program for people escaping domestic violence. A recent research report by Michael Mendelson of the Caledon Institute of Social Policy looked at possible design approaches for a housing benefit (sometimes called a housing allowance program).

In this policy brief, Maytree’s Director of Policy and Research, Noah Zon, provides an introduction to the issue, looking at how a housing benefit program works and how it could be a step towards universal access to affordable housing.

Download the policy brief.