Searching for Rent And Housing Assistance Programs

COVID19 (September 30, 2021): Offices are currently closed to the public. The staff are still available via phone and email.

Financial assistance to tenants

• nominal subsidy paid to the landlord on behalf of a household in need of rental assistance

COVID-19 (September 30, 2021): Offices are currently closed to the public. The staff are still available via phone and email.

Financial aid to assist families in maintaining a permanent residence, rather than face eviction and homelessness

Expenses that may be considered:

• utility arrears
• rental arrears
• minor relocation fees (transportation to another municipality)
• temporary accommodations
• moving expenses

Housing

• financial assistance via a rental subsidy for individuals with a medical need for domiciliary care

Provides a direct, monthly benefit payment to eligible households to help pay their rent
​
Benefit payments are:

• based on household income and local market rent
• portable - benefits may be received even if moved to another address

Households who are approved to receive benefits under this program must consent to be removed from the social housing waiting list

Assists low-income families and individuals in maintaining their housing when facing possible eviction due to rental arrears owed

• maximum of $1,000 for single applications and $1,800 for couples and families
• the funds are available until exhausted

Fund that aims to assist low-income residents to obtain and retain their housing and to assist those at risk of homelessness to remain housed​

Some of the benefits that may be available are:

• last month's rent
• heat, hydro or rent arrears
• minor home repairs
• moving (residents currently living within Prescott-Russell only) and storage
• repairs/purchases of household appliances

The Rockland Office is located at: 860 Caron St, Unit 2, Rockland, ON, K4K 1K5, email address: RSS@prescott-russell.on.ca

Provides a direct, monthly benefit payment to eligible households to help pay their rent
​
Benefit payments are:

• based on household income and local market rent
• portable - benefits may be received even if moved to another address

Households who are approved to receive benefits under this program must consent to be removed from the social housing waiting list

Financial assistance and employment supports including training and skills development, academic upgrading and work placements

Financial Assistance

• monthly allowance based on family size, housing costs and income
• monthly drug benefit card

Employment and Participation benefits

• covers costs related to starting a job or work placement
• Families with Children -- child care start-up costs
• Health-Related Benefits -- may include emergency dental services, eyeglasses, special diet allowance, health care supplies, medical transportation funds, prosthetic devices, funerals and burials

Employment Assistance

• clients 18-65 years who are not caring for pre-school age children or who do not have a serious disability or illness must participate in employment assistance activities

Community Participation

• volunteer placements
• Job Search Programs -- based on individual's skills, experience and circumstances
• Employment Placement -- job matching service
• Basic Education -- basic adult upgrading
• high school upgrading
• literacy and basic skills
• Job Skills Training -- development of skills for specific jobs
• on-the-job training
• Supports to Self-Employment -- referrals to self-employment programs

Learning, Earning and Parenting (LEAP)

• helps young parents finish high school, improve parenting skills, locate and maintain employment

Interactive Voice Response (IVR) 1-800-808-2268

• automated information and payment details, payment history, file status
• information and announcements about Ontario Works
• service not available to TTY users

Welfare Fraud Hotline 1-800-394-7867

• to report allegations of fraudulent collection of Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program assistance

COVID-19 (April 24, 2020): Municipal offices are closed to the public until further notice, clients for Community and Social Service (CSS) are asked to email or telephone their caseworker

Satellite office for Social Housing and Ontario Works

• financial assistance and employment supports including training and skills development, academic upgrading and work placements

Rent-geared to income housing registry-- applications for subsidized housing

Rent supplement program-- additional rent-geared to income units through private landlords

Investent in Affordable Housing for Ontario (IAH)-- programs: Housing Allowance, Ontario Renovates, Homeownership

Financial Assistance -- Monthly allowance based on family size, housing costs and income * monthly drug benefit card

Employment and Participation benefits -- covers costs related to starting a job or work placement

• Families with Children -- child care start-up costs
• Health-Related Benefits -- may include emergency dental services, eyeglasses, special diet allowance, health care supplies, medical transportation funds, prosthetic devices, funerals and burials

Employment Assistance -- clients 18-65 years who are not caring for pre-school age children or who do not have a serious disability or illness must participate in employment assistance activities

Community Participation -- volunteer placements

• Job Search Programs -- based on individual's skills, experience and circumstances
• Employment Placement -- job matching service
• Basic Education -- basic adult upgrading
• high school upgrading
• literacy and basic skills
• Job Skills Training -- development of skills for specific jobs
• on-the-job training
• Supports to Self-Employment -- referrals to self-employment programs

Learning, Earning and Parenting (LEAP) -- helps young parents finish high school, improve parenting skills, locate and maintain employment

Interactive Voice Response (IVR) 1-800-808-2268 -- automated information and payment details, payment history, file status

• information and announcements about Ontario Works
• service not available to TTY users

Welfare Fraud Hotline 1-800-394-7867 -- to report allegations of fraudulent collection of Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program assistance

COVID-19 (6 Jun 2022): All four Employment and Social Services office hours to the public are Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4:30 pm. Staff will continue to provide telephone or email support from Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4:30 pm.

Helps Ottawa residents who cannot afford to pay for items or services needed to maintain their housing and for health items that are not available through other programs

May help to pay for/provide:

• urgent dental care, including dentures
• eye exams and glasses
• Assistive Devices Program (ADP) 25% consumer contribution
• bathroom aids
• surgical and diabetic supplies
• cremations and burials
• beds, cribs, high chairs

COVID-19 (6 Jun 2022): All four Employment and Social Services office hours to the public are Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4:30 pm. Staff will continue to provide telephone or email support from Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4:30 pm.

Helps Ottawa residents who cannot afford to pay for items or services needed to maintain their housing and for health items that are not available through other programs

May help to pay for/provide:

• urgent dental care, including dentures
• eye exams and glasses
• Assistive Devices Program (ADP) 25% consumer contribution
• bathroom aids
• surgical and diabetic supplies
• cremations and burials
• beds, cribs, high chairs

COVID-19 (6 Jun 2022): All four Employment and Social Services office hours to the public are Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4:30 pm. Staff will continue to provide telephone or email support from Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4:30 pm.

Helps Ottawa residents who cannot afford to pay for items or services needed to maintain their housing and for health items that are not available through other programs

May help to pay for/provide:

• urgent dental care, including dentures
• eye exams and glasses
• Assistive Devices Program (ADP) 25% consumer contribution
• bathroom aids
• surgical and diabetic supplies
• cremations and burials
• beds, cribs, high chairs

Central services to any person in need upon request through referral to appropriate Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SSVP) conferences in Ottawa or to the SSVP Store

• accepts donations in money and in kind and provides receipts for income tax purposes
• coordinates Society's activities in the City of Ottawa
• volunteer opportunities available

Assistance available includes:

• home visits and in-home needs assessment
• food vouchers
• food delivery from a food bank
• clothing
• furniture
• friendly visiting programs
• social justice focused on systemic changes

Assistance may be available for the following:

• utility assistance (heat, hydro, water, etc.)
• financial assistance for emergencies/essentials
• eviction assistance/homelessness prevention
• post-secondary education fund
• individual and cause advocacy
• disaster relief (local and international)

Funds community agencies that, in turn, help people who experience homelessness and those at risk of becoming homeless through a system of services that ranges from preventing homelessness to helping people find permanent housing

Funded Programs:

Emergency Shelters:

• subsidizes permanent shelter spaces in one City-operated family shelter, eight community shelter providers and overflow facilities as needed
• shelter operators provide a variety of services including meals, a place to sleep, and case management, including practical assistance
• all clients are assessed and referred to the social and health services they need
• each shelter has a housing support worker to help clients find long-term housing and settle into the community
• no one who needs emergency shelter is turned away and other option are assessed to ensure no one is left without shelter

Support Services- Supported Housing:

• case management support workers assist clients with activities provided in their own homes through scheduled visits, such as life skills to support independent living
• individuals live in scattered units across the city including units that are block-leased by the service provider

Support Services - Housing-Based Case Management:

• managers assist people who are unsheltered and/or in emergency shelters to find appropriate housing, learn relevant life skills, and promote an improved quality of life by facilitating timely access to community supports, thereby enhancing housing stability and supporting long-term housing retention

Outreach:

• funds a number of homelessness outreach teams whose functions include helping people who are on the street to access emergency shelters and to obtain housing, as well as supporting people experiencing homelessness by preventing or reducing potential harm and connecting them to health and social services

The following Property Tax Mitigation Programs are available for ratepayers who meet specific criteria:

Full Property Tax Deferral Program

• deferral of full year's property tax total
• deferred amounts will be subject to annual interest, charged to the tax account

Partial Property Tax Deferral Program

• partial deferral of year's property tax total
• relief based on the total tax increase over the previous year
• total amount of tax relief available restricted to a maximum of 75% of current assessed value of the property
• deferred amounts will be subject to annual interest

Farm Grant Program

• financial relief to working farmers
• allows June final tax instalment to be paid in December

COVID-19 (6 Jun 2022): All four Employment and Social Services office hours to the public are Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4:30 pm. Staff will continue to provide telephone or email support from Mon-Fri 8:30 am-4:30 pm.

Helps Ottawa residents who cannot afford to pay for items or services needed to maintain their housing and for health items that are not available through other programs

May help to pay for/provide:

• urgent dental care, including dentures
• eye exams and glasses
• Assistive Devices Program (ADP) 25% consumer contribution
• bathroom aids
• surgical and diabetic supplies
• cremations and burials
• beds, cribs, high chairs

Provides a direct, monthly benefit payment to eligible households to help pay their rent
​
Benefit payments are:

• based on household income and local market rent
• portable - benefits may be received even if moved to another address

Households who are approved to receive benefits under this program must consent to be removed from the social housing waiting list

Homelessness Prevention Program

• financial assistance on a one-time basis for individuals that require support in becoming housed or to remain housed

Emergency shelter:

• temporary accommodation for families facing an emergency situation leading to loss of shelter
• maximum stay is 21 days

Homelessness Prevention Benefit:

• emergency funds provided to help low-income households, including social assistance recipients, facing housing related emergencies including energy arrears (energy arrears, including hydro, oil, and gas, as well as the costs for security deposits and reconnection fees)
• benefit is to address housing crises which have resulted in homelessness or which may lead to homelessness

Financial Assistance -- monthly allowance based on family size, housing costs and income

Employment Program -- offers temporary financial assistance for basic needs and accommodation

• Employment and Participation Benefits- cover costs related to starting a job or placement or education
• Families with Children -- child care start-up costs

Employment Assistance -- clients 18-65 years must participate in employment assistance activities unless they are living with a serious disability or illness, or caring for preschool children

Community Participation -- volunteer placements

• job search programs -- based on individual's skills, experience and circumstances
• employment placement -- job matching service
• basic education -- basic adult upgrading
• high school upgrading
• literacy and basic skills
• job skills training -- development of skills for specific jobs
• on-the-job training
• supports to self-employment -- referrals to self-employment programs

Learning, Earning and Parenting (LEAP) -- helps young parents finish high school, improve parenting skills, locate and maintain employment

Discretionary and supplemental Mandatory Benefits -- prescription drug coverage and may include emergency dental services, eyeglasses, special diet allowance, health care supplies, medical transportation funds, prosthetic devices, funerals and burials

• programs may vary by City or Municipality, and may be available to non-Ontario Works recipients upon income assessment

Interactive Voice Response (IVR) 1-800-808-2268 -- automated information and payment details, payment history, file status

• information and announcements about Ontario Works
• service not available to TTY users

Welfare FraudHotline 1-800-394-7867 -- to report allegations of fraudulent collection of Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program assistance

Provides a direct, monthly benefit payment to eligible households to help pay their rent
​
Benefit payments are:

• based on household income and local market rent
• portable - benefits may be received even if moved to another address

Households who are approved to receive benefits under this program must consent to be removed from the social housing waiting list

Program helps youth with mental health and/or addiction as they transition from youth services to adult services. Assistance includes support with counselling, housing, employment, financial wellness, government ID and paperwork.