The shortage of affordable housing is a pressing issue in Canada today. The need for affordable housing is growing, is not clearly understood, and has not received the same level of media and attention by the public at large as the related issue of homelessness. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) has already taken positive first steps to help sponsors of affordable housing through the establishment of CMHC’s Partnership Centre which is helping non-profits learn how to broker partnerships with the private sector for affordable housing. Although the value of private sector partnerships is clear, CMHC recognizes that financial support for affordable housing is also available from various sources including Canada’s philanthropic sector. In 1998, CMHC commissioned a research study to provide sponsors of affordable housing with an understanding of the philanthropic sector and with information on how to obtain philanthropic contributions for their projects. (excerpt from the document)