Affordable housing generally refers to housing where costs (rent or mortgage plus utilities) don't exceed 30% of a household's income. In Canada, affordable housing is a shared responsibility: the federal government provides funding through programs like the National Housing Strategy, provinces operate housing programs and set landlord-tenant rules, and municipalities control zoning, approve developments, and sometimes provide land or funding. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) is the main federal agency involved. The affordable housing 'crisis' in many Canadian cities refers to the growing gap between housing costs and what average people earn, making housing unaffordable for many working families, seniors, and vulnerable populations.