Chronic homelessness is a highly complex social problem of national importance. The problem has elicited a variety of societal and public policy responses over the years, concomitant with fluctuations in the economy and changes in the demographics of and attitudes toward poor and disenfranchised citizens. In recent decades, federal agencies, nonprofit organizations, and the philanthropic community have worked hard to develop and implement programs to solve the challenges of homelessness, and progress has been made. However, much more remains to be done. Importantly, the results of various efforts, and especially the efforts to reduce homelessness among veterans in recent years, have shown that the problem of homelessness can be successfully addressed. Although a number of programs have been developed to meet the needs of persons experiencing homelessness, this report focuses on one particular type of intervention: permanent supportive housing (PSH). Permanent Supportive Housing focuses on the impact of PSH on health care outcomes and its cost-effectiveness. The report also addresses policy and program barriers that affect the ability to bring the PSH and other housing models to scale to address housing and health care needs.

The Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP) was announced by the Government of Canada in the spring of 1973 and became operational the following year. It came about because of the dual recognition that the existing housing stock represented an important national asset that needed to be preserved, and that a significant portion of this stock was substandard and occupied by households unable to afford necessary repairs. Over the following 26 years, more than 600 000 dwellings, mostly comprised of self-contained homeowner and rental units, but also a good number of beds in hostels, dormitories, special care facilities and rooming houses, were repaired with RRAP assistance across all regions and areas of the country. During this time, RRAP demonstrated great versatility in adapting to the priorities of the day in achieving a broad range of public objectives from improving the housing conditions of low-income Canadians, neighourhood improvement and employment generation, to meeting the special needs of persons with disabilities and the homeless. This history is divided into two main parts. The first recounts the evolution of RRAP from its inception to the present day. The second part explores the evolution of critical aspects of RRAP related to need, its design, management and accomplishments, and concludes with an epilogue which reviews reasons for RRAP's durability and explores the need for targeted housing rehabilitation programs in the future.

This guide provides step-by-step technical information for evaluating a residential building's site, exterior, interior, and structural, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC systems.