Insights on Housing Transitions and Systemic Barriers in Canada

These research insights offer a broad perspective on housing transitions and systemic barriers in Canada. The first explores how people navigate different types of shelter, while the second delves into the systemic challenges impacting access and stability within the housing system.

Together, the housing transitions research and the systemic barriers framework provide a comprehensive view of 2 interconnected issues:

• The complexities of housing transitions.
• The broader systemic barriers affecting housing access and  stability.

These Research Insights provide a holistic view of the challenges within Canada’s housing system and offer targeted recommendations to enhance policy and support mechanisms.

1. Moving Insights: Encampments, Hotels and Cooperatives

This CMHC research has provided valuable information about how people move between several types of shelter, including:

• homeless encampments
• transitional hotels for refugees
• housing co-operatives

This study looks at these transitions instead of the usual focus on moving from rental to home ownership. The goal is to understand how these different housing experiences fit into the broader picture and to help shape future housing policies.

The study used both literature reviews and interviews to explore how people move between these 3 types of shelters. It found that traditional models often assume people move directly from shelter to non-market, to market, to ownership.

However, the reality is more complicated. People’s paths through the housing system can vary widely due to personal situations and barriers, challenging the idea of a simple, linear move in the housing continuum.

Insights from each shelter type show these different paths:

• People in encampments – people who have been displaced from the rental market in addition to chronically homeless individuals – face major challenges in moving to stable rental homes. They may also prefer encampments over emergency shelters.
• Government-sponsored refugees staying in transitional hotels often face long stays due to limited access to permanent housing and support services.
• Housing co-operatives are often viewed as a final housing option, featuring a competitive and opaque application process. They also have a diverse group of residents.

The research identifies several areas for improvement in housing policy. It highlights the need for better data on transitions from institutions to housing and calls for more adaptable housing designs. Recommendations include:

• investing in homelessness prevention
• enhancing support for refugees
• improving the application process for co-operatives

The research also suggests changing the housing continuum model to focus more on stability rather than just home ownership. Recent federal programs, like the Canadian Housing Benefit and the Affordable Housing Fund, aim to address these issues and support more stable housing solutions.

Download the Report (PDF)

2. Systemic Barriers Framework: Understanding barriers to accessing and staying housed in Canada’s housing system

A recent CMHC study has developed a new framework to understand the barriers that affect access to and stability within Canada’s housing system. This research looked at how different parts of the housing system interact and identified the main groups facing multiple barriers. The goal is to help improve policies and programs that address these barriers at both the entry and maintenance stages of housing.

The study involved reviewing existing literature, analyzing data, and conducting focus groups with 35 experts in various housing fields. Researchers found that issues often overlap between financial systems and housing production. Problems such as delays in funding and municipal planning issues contribute to a lack of affordable housing. Financial problems and income gaps make it even harder for low-income households and those receiving subsidies to find affordable and stable housing.

The study highlights that some groups face greater barriers. Low-income households, people with disabilities, and racialized newcomers often struggle to find and keep housing. Discrimination in both the rental market and social housing exacerbates these problems. Additionally, income subsidies often fall short of covering housing costs, pushing individuals into competitive and sometimes unfair rental markets.

The research points out areas that need further study, such as how housing supply affects discrimination and the specific needs of different newcomer groups. The new framework can help address these systemic barriers and encourages more research to find effective solutions. Decision-makers are advised to use these findings to improve housing policies and programs, aiming to enhance stability and reduce inequalities.

Download the Report (PDF)