Rent supplements are government payments that help low-income households afford housing in the private rental market. Unlike public housing where government owns buildings, rent supplements let recipients live in regular market housing with government paying part of the rent directly to landlords or providing portable benefits to tenants. Federal programs like the Canada Housing Benefit and various provincial rent supplement programs aim to close the gap between what low-income households can afford and actual market rents. While federally or provincially funded, rent supplements reduce pressure on municipal services by helping people maintain stable housing and avoid homelessness.