Charitable housing is living space provided either free or at greatly reduced cost to persons in extreme need. It may be temporary in nature, and may or may not include private units. This does not include normal public housing where reduced rent is charged, and it does not include single-room occupancy facilities which charge for rooms.

The accommodation responds to extreme need and can be temporary. Providing separate private units is optional within that charitable arrangement.

Ordinary reduced-rent public housing and single-room-occupancy facilities charging for rooms remain excluded. Low rent by itself is insufficient to establish this charitable-housing use.