This paper examines the provision of affordable housing in rural Ontario by analyzing current housing market trends in the province and in two case study communities located in southeastern Ontario. It outlines major affordable housing issues in rural communities and obstacles that have prevented affordable housing development. The report finds that rural Ontario communities face significant challenges to encouraging affordable housing development, including the old age of many homes, current environmental legislation that limits compact multi-family dwelling development, and a limited rental housing supply that restricts the housing available to lowincome households. It subsequently recommends a number of policy reforms for all levels of government to facilitate place-based approaches that meet the diverse housing needs of rural communities