Our third point is that the government needs to commit to protect long-term rental assistance programs. Rental assistance is a tried and tested method to help low-income households offset the cost of rent. This ensures that low-income households pay no more than 30% of their income on rent. This also creates mixed-income communities, where people paying market rent and people using assistance live alongside one another. We have 50 years of evidence that this model works and creates a strong sense of community among neighbours.
The national housing strategy includes a new rental assistance program that is set to begin in April 2020, but the scope is quite limited. In the past the federal government assisted almost half of all households and co-ops across the country. Now it has dropped below 20% because the rental assistance programs have become unpredictable, or do not even exist in some provinces. You may say that this is because there is less need and people are finding the right housing in the market, but we know that this is not the case. The need for affordable housing continues to grow, with 1.7 million Canadian households currently in core housing need, meaning their housing is not affordable or not adequate.
Co-op homes are already built, paid for and situated in strong communities. By maintaining these rental assistance programs, we can continue to help more low-income families live in co-ops across the country.
Solving these housing problems no longer requires discussion; it requires action. We know what will work, so we encourage the federal government to leverage our expertise and our communities. A housing system that works for all Canadians must include more co-operative housing.
Thank you for your invitation today. We look forward to your questions.