FAQ – Housing Services
These frequently asked questions explain how community housing works, how to apply, and what to expect while waiting for housing. The information below is meant to help answer common questions and clear up misunderstandings.
What is subsidized or Rent Geared to Income housing?
Subsidized housing, also called Rent Geared to Income housing, means your rent is based on how much money your household earns.
In most cases, rent is about 30 percent of your gross monthly household income.
If you receive Ontario Works or ODSP, your rent is usually set using the amount allowed under that program instead of the 30 percent calculation.
How do I apply for community housing or Rent Geared to Income housing?
To be considered for community housing, you must submit a completed housing application.
If you are applying for Rent Geared to Income housing, you will be asked to provide information about your household income, family size, and current living situation.
Application forms and guides are available online, or you can get help from an intake worker.
Who can apply for housing?
To apply for housing, you must be 16 years of age or older and a legal resident of Canada.
No member of the household can owe money to a social housing provider.
All applications are reviewed to make sure eligibility requirements are met.
How are people selected for housing and how long is the waitlist?
Once an application is approved, applicants are placed on a waitlist.
Housing staff confirm eligibility, but staff do not choose who is housed. Offers are made based on waitlist order, eligibility, and occupancy rules.
There is no set wait time for housing. How long someone waits depends on things like unit size, location, priority status, and when units become available. Because of this, housing staff cannot predict exact wait times.
Can I apply for housing if I have no income?
Yes, you can apply for housing if you have no income.
Rent is always charged. If a tenant has no income, they will be directed to apply for Ontario Works or another income source. Once income is verified, rent will be recalculated.
Tenants agree to pay rent on or before the first of each month.
Can I choose where I want to live?
When you apply for housing, you will be asked where you want to live.
You can choose one or more housing locations. Your name will be added to the waitlist for each location you choose, as long as you are eligible.
Housing is offered when a unit becomes available at one of the locations you selected.
Can I choose or rank my preferred housing locations?
No. Housing locations cannot be ranked or listed in order of preference.
When you apply, you choose the locations you are willing to live in. Housing is offered based on what becomes available, not on which location you want first.
If a unit becomes available at one of the locations you selected, that unit is offered to you.
What happens if I refuse a housing offer?
Applicants are only allowed one housing offer.
If an applicant refuses that offer, they are removed from the waitlist and must reapply if they want to be considered for housing again.
Does housing staff screen applicants or decide who gets housing?
Housing staff do not screen applicants.
Community housing is offered through a fair and consistent process for everyone who qualifies. Eligibility is not based on personal opinions or individual circumstances.
Housing offers are made when an applicant becomes eligible and reaches the appropriate position on the waitlist, following eligibility and occupancy rules.
Can another agency approve someone to live in my unit or add someone to my household?
Rent Geared to Income rules limit who can live in a housing unit.
Only the people listed on the lease are approved to live in the unit. If someone wants to be added, they must submit a housing application and provide the required documents for review.
No other agency can approve someone to live in a community housing unit.
What information do I need to keep updated while I am on the waitlist?
Applicants must keep their information up to date with housing staff or an intake worker.
It is especially important to update contact information, such as phone numbers or addresses, so housing staff can reach you.
Applicants should also report changes to income or household size, as this can affect eligibility for certain units or locations.
Is community housing the same as supportive housing?
No. Community housing is not the same as supportive housing.
Supportive housing includes on site services. Community housing does not provide on site services.
Housing staff can help connect tenants to support services in the community. In some cases, partner agencies may provide support in a tenant’s unit, but those services are not part of community housing and are not provided by housing staff.
Who decides if someone is evicted, and does winter change that?
Evictions can be ordered at any time of year, including during the winter.
Housing staff do not decide if a tenant is evicted. Evictions are decided by the Landlord and Tenant Board through a formal hearing process.
When issues arise, such as unpaid rent, housing staff try to work with tenants first through supports or payment plans. These options require the tenant to take part. If the issue is not resolved, the matter goes to a hearing where both sides present information, and the Board makes the final decision.