THE CANADIAN HOUSING POLICY CONTEXT

This article examines three purposes of social housing in Canada: macr oeconomic stimulus, community development, and family self-sufficiency . It then addresses the links between social housing policy and other social policy fields. Finally, it discusses political support for soci al housing. Macroeconomic stimulation has been and continues to be a f unction of Canadian housing policy. Several housing programs have been used to support communities, and the role of housing policy in social support will probably increase. But the contribution of housing to fa mily self-sufficiency has been little discussed or acted on. Although housing programs are integral to social well-being, in Canada they hav e been separate from other social programs, and changing this situatio n will be a challenge. The most widely supported roles for social hous ing seem to be economic development; the community functions of social participation, integration, and social stabilization; and the link be tween housing and family economic opportunity.