Government Assisted Housing

Throughout Canada, the government subsidizes houses and apartments for people with low incomes who cannot afford local rents.

In most cases, there is a long wait for these subsidized homes — sometimes many years. Rules vary among provinces, and sometimes among cities. Generally, landed immigrants or refugees are eligible to move in, but are rarely given preference over others on the waiting list. You cannot join the waiting list before you arrive in Canada.

Therefore, most immigrants live in private rental housing before they can move to subsidized housing. When you arrive in Canada, ask the local settlement agency for more information on local subsidized housing.

Types of Subsidized Housing

There are four main types of government-assisted housing. Not all types of housing are available in every part of Canada.

• Public Housing refers to houses or apartments built and managed by a government housing authority or corporation. Almost all families and seniors who live in public housing pay rent-geared-to-income — or about 30 per cent of their total household income on rent. Often public housing buildings are older than other types of subsidized housing.
• Non-Profit Housing is rental housing built and managed by a community group, such as a faith group, labour union, or ethnic group. About 2/3 of the homes are “rent-geared-to-income.”
• Co-operative (or co-op) housing is owned and managed by the people who live there. About half the homes are “rent-geared-to-income,” with rents for the other half set at local market rents.
• Rent Supplement units are owned by private landlords, who receive a government subsidy to lower the rents of some apartments.