Empty headingEmpty heading

There are many barriers to accessing affordable and safe housing for New Brunswickers with a disability. This has been exacerbated by increasing rents, low vacancy rates, and longer waitlists for public housing. Ultimately, this leads to a higher number of people with a disability living in precarious housing situations.

In June of 2023, the NB Housing Corporation launched New Brunswick’s housing strategy – Housing for All – and outlined initiatives aimed at making housing more affordable and accessible for New Brunswickers.

What is the Direct-to-Tenant Benefit?

Included in the 2023 strategy was a new Direct-to-Tenant (DTT) benefit. This is a rent subsidy program that provides direct financial assistance to low-income renters to help with housing costs. The benefit is paid directly to the tenant (not the landlord), so it moves with the renter if they change homes. This benefit is available for single adults who are employed, seniors, and families.

Current Situation

As outlined in the 2025 Speech from the Throne, released in October:

“Since the Direct-to-Tenant rental benefit was launched, over 10,000 households have been approved for support. In 2025-2026, Housing NB committed to supporting an additional 2,500 households and as of October 1, 2,457 new households had been approved.”

The Speech also referenced the pilot project, launched in July of 2025, to explore the Direct-to-Tenant benefit for New Brunswickers with a disability (DTT-D). This is something Inclusion NB has advocated for.

What is the DTT-D?

This is a rental benefit designed to improve access to affordable housing for low-income, working-age adults with a disability. Like the DTT, the benefit is paid directly to the recipient, and landlords are not required to be notified that a person is receiving the benefit. This is helpful in reducing the stigma that accompanies benefits that are paid directly to landlords, like the Portable Rent Supplement. It also provides people with more control over where and with whom they live.

People with a disability can apply for the DTT-D with support from a member of the New Brunswick Disability Executives’ Network (NBDEN). NBDEN member organizations, such as Inclusion NB, are the only referring agents for the DTT-D pilot. Their role includes verifying a person’s disability and their housing-related need and supporting the person to complete the application. This is helpful in speeding up the application process and preventing the need and burden for people to continuously “prove” their disability.

What’s Next?

Housing NB is collecting feedback from referring organizations, such as Inclusion NB. Inclusion NB is gathering our own data as we support people through the application process.

Initial feedback indicates that the application process is accessible and simplified when compared to other program applications. The DTT-D has many positive features, including:

  • The benefit amount: 100% Median Market Rent (MMR)*
  • People can live with a spouse/partner or dependent (child, for example) or a live-in support person and still receive 100% MMR
  • The direct-to-tenant payment promotes autonomy, choice, and control and helps to reduce stigma.

*Median Market Rate is the middle rental price for housing units, meaning that half of the rental prices in a given area are more, and half of the rental prices are less.

While these features are positive, there have been some challenges noted, including the turnaround time between approval and the direct deposit of the benefit, and the unpredictable nature of a pilot program based on Median Market Rent versus rent geared to income. Housing NB has advised that individuals who currently receive a Portable Rent Supplement (PRS) should keep the PRS instead of applying for the DTT-D benefit.

As the pilot moves forward, we will continue to monitor the accessibility and success of the pilot. Some things to consider include whether there is room to increase the benefit in situations where an accessible unit is required, the long-term sustainability of the benefit, and opportunities for adjustments, such as a pre-approval process to prevent people from losing a housing option while waiting for approval for the DTT-D.

We look forward to continued, open discussion with Housing NB on the progress and impact of the DTT-D. Inclusion NB wants to ensure people with a disability are provided with stable, long-term support to access inclusive housing.

New Brunswickers with an intellectual or developmental disability have the right to make important decisions about their lives. Where they live is paramount among these decisions and needs to be part of any housing program moving forward.

Inclusion NB will continue to advocate for the voices of the disability community to be included to actively provide input. We look forward to sharing our advocacy work around how the DTT-D will be permanently implemented throughout New Brunswick.

– Jake Reid, Executive Director