Distinctions Between Non-profit, For-profit, and Public Providers: The Case of Multi-sector Rental Housing

Although various organizational forms are involved in the critically important role of providing rental housing, little is known about their potentially distinctive characteristics. Calling upon unique data collected from landlords and tenants of for-profit, non-profit, and public rental housing in Canada (N=5624 units; N=492 tenants), we explore shelter costs paid by tenants, quality, and unit accessibility. Findings point to some unique features based on provider type: non-profits have lower shelter costs than for-profit units, and for-profit and public status are associated with lower odds of accessibility. Limited differences are found related to housing quality.