Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland says housing is the main challenge in Canada right now and to help combat the issue, announced a $99 million top up to the Canada Housing Benefit. This will bring the total funding to $324 million for 2023/24.
Freeland says by 2027/28, it will help over 300,000 households.
“This benefit helps make rent affordable by delivering rent support directly to Canadians.”
The Canada Housing Benefit was launched in 2020 and since, according to the Canadian Revenue Agency, it has received 815,910 applications and has doled out $402,366,000 in payments to low-income Canadians. It is a one-time payment of $500, but it is unclear how much that will increase to.
Freeland says they are also delivering $100 million to emergency winter shelters to 85 communities for those experiencing homelessness.
Today’s announcement is in addition to the $364 million announced last week to the Interim Housing Assistance Program.
