Holes in the Safety Net, Leaks in the Roof: Changes in Canadian Welfare Policy and Their Implications for Social Housing Programs
Description:
This article provides a good overview and critique of changes to federal policy regarding social assistance and its relationship to housing. The author highlights the shift from the Canada Assistance Plan (CAP) to the Canada Health and Social Transfer (CHST) as an abandonment of the Federal Government's influence over provincial welfare policies. Indeed, as the author points out, the CHST is an unconditional grant, which means that the funds do not have to be spent on social assistance at all. Prince notes that the Social Housing Agreement, which facilitated the transfer of the administration of existing social housing from the federal government to the provinces (and in Ontario's case ultimately to the municipalities) has more strings attached. The author is a supporter of government spending on social housing but says that social housing and welfare policies should be more integrated. It is not clear, however, if he would support the restrictive policies that have evolved, since this article was written, under Ontario's Social Housing Reform Act.
Type of Resource:
Journal
Publication Date:
1998
Volume:
9
Issue:
4
Pages:
825-848
Location:
Washington