Community housing is affordable housing that is owned by the provincial government, municipalities, non-profit organizations or co-operative housing organizations. The purpose of community housing is to help individuals who are unable to afford market rent find adequate, affordable housing that meets their needs. Community housing also visually resembles other types of housing, allowing its tenants to blend into their communities without worrying about the discrimination commonly experienced by individuals with low incomes. Currently, community housing makes up 3.5% of the overall housing stock in Canada but many organizations and advocates have called for the community housing stock in Canada to double. 

 Community Housing Canada is a national research partnership that is committed to strengthening the sustainability and resilience of the community housing sector in Canada through research. The research at CHC is centred around five areas of inquiry – increasing adequate supply, addressing housing vulnerability, enhancing building energy innovation and co-benefits, deepening social inclusion through housing interventions, and understanding labour in and for community housing.  CHC has created a video which helps explain the role of community housing. You can watch that video here. 

HOME-RL is a member of this research partnership and leads the social inclusion area of inquiry. This area of inquiry addresses key data gaps in housing needs for vulnerable populations in New Brunswick. HOME-RL’S NB Housing study is a key example of the kind of work that Community Housing Canada is doing. The NB Housing study investigates physical and mental health outcomes for individuals on the subsidized housing waitlist, highlighting the negative impacts on mental and physical health that stems from housing and food insecurity. Community Housing Canada recently released a policy brief that demonstrates the role of social support in improving self-reported physical and mental health outcomes. You can review the brief's policy recommendations here. 

Sarah (she/her) is a Masters student in Political Science. Her research focuses on housing policy and process theory. Fatima (she/her) is a Bachelor of Social Work student at UNB. Her research interests intersect within the social determinants of health, newcomer populations, and the Muslim community.