Searching for Housing Expense Assistance

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

Limited funding to low income seniors who own their home and to people with disabilities for essential home repairs and accessibility modifications to support independent living, and for qualifying landlords to modify their existing units or buildings to make them more accessible to eligible seniors and persons with disabilities

Consists of two sub-components:

• Home Repair to assist low income senior or people with disabilities home owner households: Essential repairs and/or modifications to make the home safer, more accessible and more energy efficient may be considered.
• Multi-Unit Rehabilitation to assist: Landlords of eligible affordable rental projects to modify units to increase accessibility and essential repairs.

Modifications to increase accessibility related to housing and reasonably related to the occupant's disability including:

• ramps
• handrails
• chair and bath lifts
• height adjustments to counter tops
• cues for doorbells/fire alarms

Program administered by the City's Housing Services Branch

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

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)

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

• helps enhance the quality, affordability and choice of housing
• works to enhance housing finance options
• assists those who cannot afford housing in the private market
• improves building standards and housing construction
• provides policymakers with the information and analysis they need to sustain a vibrant housing market

Affordable Housing Programs in Ontario: click here for information on affordable housing

Assistance for homeless youth

• Housing First case worker assists youth in finding safe affordable housing, acts as trustee, and makes referrals to other related agencies
• operates transitional house for youth in Perth
• rent supplements
• information on community resources addressing issues surrounding homelessness
• youth housing advocacy
• community awareness
• volunteer opportunities

National fund

• created to support financing arrangements for housing on reserve and settlement lands where appropriate, while respecting the communal ownership of reserve land

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

Aims to prevent, address and reduce homelessness by assisting low-income households :

• at imminent risk of eviction or disconnection
• may provide support for: arrears with electrical or heating company (oil, gas, propane)
• after reception of a formal eviction notice as a result of unpaid rent or arrears

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.

Income support

• monthly financial assistance and benefits such as a drug card for prescribed drugs
• mobility devices, batteries and repair
• dental care
• vision care benefit and hearing aids
• health related benefits
• extended health benefits Benefits also include assistive devices
• guide dogs
• utilities
• employment start-up benefit
• child care costs
• mandatory special necessities -- includes diabetic supplies, surgical supplies and dressings, transportation to medical treatment if cost exceeds $15 in a month

Employment support

• provides services to remove barriers to competitive employment and to assist people with disabilities to attain competitive employment
• employment planning and preparation
• skills training
• job placement
• self employment assistance
• adaptive technologies for training/employment
• program is voluntary to all persons with disabilities

COVID-19 (November 2, 2020): Community & Family Services will remain open

Family services

• financial assistance such as rent arrears, utility assistance, dentures, glasses, medication, etc.
• emergency food bag every two months
• children's summer camp

Program for low and modest income households that provides funding for major repairs and rehabilitation required to make a house safe and housing modifications to increase accessibility.

Home Repair to assist low to moderate income home owner households:

• repair their home to bring to acceptable standards while improving the energy-efficiency of the unit
• increase accessibility of their unit through modifications and adaptations.

Major repairs and rehabilitation required to make a house safe while improving energy efficiency including:

• heating systems
• chimneys
• doors and windows
• foundations
• roofs, walls, floors and ceilings
• vents, louvers
• electrical systems
• plumbing
• septic systems, well water and well drilling

Modifications to increase accessibility related to housing and reasonably related to the occupant's disability including:

• ramps
• handrails
• chair and bath lifts
• height adjustments to counter tops
• cues for doorbells/fire alarms

Provides administrative and financial support for Rent Geared-to-Income (RGI) housing providers in Lanark County

• Housing units vary in size from bachelor apartments to five-bedroom townhouses
• units located in Almonte, Carleton Place, Clayton, Perth, Pakenham and Smiths Falls.
• Some units are accessible.
• Emergency assistance for low income households to pay overdue rent or utilities
• homeownership loans
• loan for necessary home repairs for low income residents
• Adult Supportive Housing Program

Housing Assistance Program (HAP):

• financial assistance for homeless individuals or people at risk of homelessness
• Up to $1000 once per year
• funds are issued directly to a company/landlord/service provider and can assist with utility arrears, last months' rent for mandatory moves, hoarding/bed bug clean up, minor home repairs, etc.

Provides down payment assistance to individuals and families to buy a home.

Program rules:

• the home must the the sole and principal residence of the approved homeowner.
• maximum amount of 5% of the purchase price.
• affordable Housing Program (AHP) down payment will be registered on title, in the form of a 20 year mortgage.
• the mortgage is interest free for the 20 year period.
• AHP down payment assistance plus 5% of the appreciation on the property will be repayable to the County of Lanark in the event that the purchaser leases, rents or sells the property, or if ownership should change as a result of the death of the homeowner within a 20 year time frame.
• the down payment assistance mortgage will be released on the 20th anniversary date of the home purchase at the request of the homeowner.

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

Aims to prevent, address and reduce homelessness by assisting low-income households :

• at imminent risk of eviction or disconnection
• may provide support for: arrears with electrical or heating company (oil, gas, propane)
• after reception of a formal eviction notice as a result of unpaid rent or arrears