A Review of Affordable Housing Programs for Those in Greatest Need in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Findlay, Nazeem Muhajarine, Sarah Buhler, Bill Holden, Colleen Christopherson-Cote, and Len Usiskin Although housing is a basic and those facing homelessness The review human right (recognized in was conducted in the context of changes in the social policy environment in Saskatch- the 2019 National Housing ewan—and increasingly in the face of the Strategy Act), many still face COVID-19 pandemic—ad. [...] These programs fordable housing programs and efforts are funded and delivered by federal and to address the needs of the most vulner- provincial governments through The Can- able under the National Housing Strate- ada Mortgage and Housing Corporation gy, homelessness in Canada continues to (CMHC) and federal National Housing Strat- rise. [...] Many local organizations are operating at or above capacity in reports that are confirmed in the CMHC data showing that the number of people in core housing need in Saskatoon has been largely unchanged in the last several years. [...] The following average number of households received the funding in Saskatoon in 2019-2020: recieved SRHS funding • Approximately 4,000 households in Saskatoon (40% of the total num- in 2019-2020 ber of recipients). [...] The long-term project will examine the outcomes for and experiences of tenants living in afford- able housing, and the extent to which different policies, programs, and practices may result in distinct shelter (affordability, security, quality) and non-shelter (safety, health and wellbeing, social capital, access to amenities and employment) outcomes for different groups.