Just Housing Unrealized: The Canada Housing Benefit in Atlantic Canada

Abstract

We examine the design and implementation of the Canada Housing Benefit (CHB), which is a rent subsidy provided to low-income tenants and an important part of the National Housing Strategy. Focusing on three Atlantic provinces, we explore to what extent the CHB adheres to just housing, based on the perspectives of stakeholders (n=18) who work with people living in poverty. We find that the CHB fails to provide assistance to many marginalized renters, thus perpetuating their exclusion. The CHB also falls short in providing housing that is affordable and secure, and lacks involvement in decision-making on the part of those with lived experience. Finally, the current state of the rental market, including a lack of units and landlord discrimination, poses significant limitations to its implementation. We conclude that the design of the CHB needs to be overhauled to comply with just housing, but that the housing terrain in which allowances are provided needs to be transformed or just housing will remain unrealized.