kEiThZ
Superstar
A nice idea in principle, but in practice it doesn't work. Everyone knows which houses (and which families) are public housing, and children are very good at finding ways to stigmatize and exclude each other. The best way to avoid stigma is to give people the cash and let them live where they want; that way nobody knows where the money comes from.
Fully agree. I don't get why a rental income supplement is such a difficult idea in this city. Just look at the massive backlog for subsidized housing. A lot of that backlog could be eliminated by simply providing the individual/family with assistance.
You don't think people will then gravitate towards areas based on affordability and settle among people of similar economic position anyway?
Indeed they will. Except it won't be social housing. You'll get people of a similar income strata living together (like they do today anyway). Except that some will be working poor. And some will be families on rental supplements. You won't know who's who. This might also allow for options like families renting basements, which so many immigrant families or young singles do today, but somehow isn't supported for those on subsidized housing.