This is a shout out to the Rent Assist program, which operates in the province of Manitoba. It helps all tenants with low incomes to pay their rent and has a low administration cost. It also enjoys support from all sides of the political spectrum.
Rent Assist is paid directly to tenants. All tenants with low incomes are eligible, regardless of their source of income, whether it be pension, or employment, or social assistance, or insurance. The amount of assistance is determined by household size and median rents. The amount of assistance is revised annually. If/when a tenant moves, Rent Assist goes with them.
To apply, applicants demonstrate their income using their tax return and that they are tenants using their lease. The monthly payment is made electronically to those who qualify. This keeps the program administration costs to a minimum, while ensuring a level of oversight that satisfies the auditor and the political opposition.
The Caledon Insititute of Social Policy decided Rent Assist was hiding its light under a bushel and commissioned an assessment of the program in 2017. It anticipates several objections to the program and assesses whether those objections apply in the case of Rent Assist. For example, the report’s authors demonstrate that Rent Assist is not a barrier to leaving social assistance. A second discussion looks at the question of whether rents are affected by having Rent Assist in place.
With COVID-19 focussing attention on housing, Rent Assist is especially important because it offers a tested way to assist tenants who have high housing costs. It will be of interest to advocates, and policy and decision makers. For more details about the program and an analysis of how it is working in the field, see at the Caledon Institute of Social Policy: What Does An Actual Housing Allowance Look Like?
