Some thoughts on a National Housing Strategy

Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development and the federal minister responsible for the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, recently announced a consultation process on the development of a national housing strategy. This paper puts forward some considerations for the development of that strategy.  It argues that greater attention should be paid to the role of provincial/territorial income assistance and housing allowances to complement housing programs. Social housing providers must expand supports to enable labour market reattachment and thereby improve both tenant income and ability to pay rent. A clear role remains for the federal government as financier and funder of capital programs as a complement to the provincial/territorial role in income assistance. While the rental sector is a crucial component of the overall housing system, its importance has largely been overlooked. The result has been an erosion and undersupply of moderate-rate rental options. Equally important in a national housing strategy is the need to ensure access to homeownership for millennials and other first-time home buyers.

ISBN – 1-55382-673-6