On the Edge of Affordability: Increasing access to affordable housing for low-to-moderate income renters in Canada

For one in three Canadians, “home” belongs to someone else and renting may be the only option. Today, they struggle to find adequate, accessible and affordable rental housing and are being left behind in public policy efforts to tackle the ongoing housing crisis.

This paper examines policy options at all levels of government to support low-to-moderate income earners living in urban areas across Canada to access affordable rental housing.

We found that the lack of purpose-built accessible and affordable rental units, the impacts surrounding homeownership on the rental market, and the precarity experienced by renters are driving the unaffordability of rental housing. These factors are causing financial and psychological anguish among renters, and in some cases, desperation. Thoughtful policy interventions are necessary to ensure that renting is an accessible and affordable long-term option for all Canadians. This report offers recommendations that would pave the way for a more equitable and prosperous society where low-to-moderate income renters in Canada can fully participate and thrive.