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Housing Options Case Studies

To understand what these housing options have looked like in other contexts, we explored four case studies of projects implemented across North America. We used these to help understand successes, challenges and best practices for creating housing solution programs.

Here’s an introduction into the four case studies. Download the full version below:

Canada HomeShare

Home sharing

Canada HomeShare matches older adult home providers with students to support aging in place for older adults while providing safe and affordable housing solutions for post-secondary students. Facilitated by a team of social workers who prioritize safety and security, students pay a reduced rent in exchange for companionship and/or assistance with completing light household tasks. 

older adult and middle aged adult looking at a book together

Community Living BC

Home sharing

Community Living British Columbia operates a home sharing program in B.C. where adults with developmental disabilities live with contracted individuals who provide ongoing support. The program compensates providers based on participant’s individual needs, supplemented by government funding. 

empty basement suite

Cornerstones Grant Program

A program to help create and upgrade secondary suites, in Alberta 

The Cornerstones Grant Program was run as part of the City of Edmonton’s affordable housing plan. It incentivized both creating new secondary suites in existing homes, and upgrading existing secondary suites. Grants were provided to homeowners; in exchange, homeowners were required to rent out the program-funded suites to households that met certain income thresholds for five years.  

birds eye view of a neighbourhood with single-detached houses

My House My Home, County of Santa Cruz

Laneway/coach house/accessory dwelling unit

My House My Home was a program launched in 2018 that helped low-income senior homeowners build accessory dwelling in Santa Cruz, USA. Participants agreed to a deed restriction where they rent their accessory dwelling unit or the primary home at a rent affordable to low-income households.