Searching for Housing Expense Assistance

The following Property Tax Assistance programs are available for ratepayers who meet specific criteria

Tax Deferral Program (up to 1000$):

• available to property owners receiving benefits under the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) or the Ontario Works (OW) Act, or seniors receiving a Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS)
• deadline for applications is April 30, 2019

Seniors Property Tax Grant Program (100$):

• for senior citizens receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) under Old Age Security Act
• deadline for applications is April 30, 2019

Tax Increase Deferral Program:

• for tax related increases
• for eligible low-income disabled persons receiving the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) or low income disabled persons receiving assistance under the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) Act or the Family Benefits Act (FBA) of Ontario.
• deadline for applications is April 30, 2019

Program which provides low-income home owners funding to address urgent repairs and complete accessibility enhancements.

Funding Type

• Grant of $5,000 for accessibility repairs/upgrades
• Forgivable Loan of $10,000 for urgent home repairs
• Combination Grant and Forgivable Loan $10,00 for accessiblity repairs in excess of $5,000

Examples of repairs that may be considered eligible

Health and Safety:

• order issued by Fire/Health Department
• heat such as furnace, heaters or other
• fire safety
• mould
• septic system
• water quality
• well drilling
• structural that threatens life safety

Accessibliity:

• ramp
• lift
• structural modifications such as bathroom fixture, doors widening, countertops, hand rails

Structural other:

• roof
• foundation
• soffits and fascia

Energy Efficiency:

• furnace e-star rating
• insulation to R-40 rating
• window replacement e-argon
• doors

Temporary financial assistance and employment supports to those most in need residing in the City of Kingston and County of Frontenac while they undertake requirements to become and stay employed

Financial Assistance
Monthly financial assistance is available to eligible (needs tested) residents for basic needs and shelter. The amount of assistance paid is determined by family size, income and expenses.

Employment Assistance
Employment supports are available to help people become and stay employed. Funding and assistance may be available for community and employment placement, job searching, basic education or job-specific skills training, literacy training, supports to self-employment, Employment Readiness Scale, transportation, referrals to workshops and courses, Learning, Earning and Parenting (LEAP - a program offered to young parents) and addictions treatment.

Mandatory Benefits
Benefits prescribed in the Ontario Works provincial regulations include a prescription drug coverage, vision care for dependent children, special diet, pregnancy nutritional allowance, diabetic supplies, incontinence supplies, medical travel and transportation, and guide dog allowance.

Discretionary Benefits:
Discretionary Health Benefits may include: adult vision and dental care, health and well-being benefits, new born / child benefits, and other items such as ID replacements.
Discretionary Residency Benefits may include: funding towards rent arrears, utility arrears, last month's rent deposit, moving expenses and emergency heating fuel.

Emergency Assistance
Emergency assistance may be paid to a person experiencing an extreme, urgent, and unusual situation that jeopardizes the health and well-being of a member of the benefit unit, where all other financial means have been explored and exhausted.

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

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.

COVID-19 (14 Oct 2021): Food pantry services are available by appointment by calling 613-548-4411. Currently, clients complete a Client Choice Food Pantry list over the telephone when booking appointment. Vouchers for clothing, furniture may not be available during covid restrictions. Registration and access for Christmas Hamper Program is available at this location.

Access to community support

• emergency assistance for food
• Housing and Homelessness Help Programs (rent, mortgage, moving, and utilities)
• Supervised Child Access Program
• family tracing
• pastoral care
• Christmas hampers (69035078)
• Toy Drive (69035078)

See separate program listings for more information

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 Start-Up Benefit

• covers costs related to starting a job or work placement

Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative

• help with housing or moving costs

Health-Related Benefits

• may include dentures, 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

Employment Resource Centre

• walk-in job search centre
• access to computers, Internet, fax, photocopier, telephone, resource materials, job banks, labour market information
• assistance with resumes
• referrals to job counselling and training

Community Participation

• volunteer placements

Job Search Programs

• based on individual's skills, experience and circumstances

Employment Placement

• job matching service

Job Skills Training

• development of skills for specific jobs
• on-the-job training

Learning, Earning and Parenting (LEAP)

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

Other services:

Addiction Services Initiative

• assistance for recipients whose substance abuse makes it difficult to become/stay employed

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 (ODSP)

City of Kingston's Ontario Works program delivery is available on site, one day (Thursday) per week

Financial Assistance
Monthly financial assistance is available to eligible (needs tested) residents for basic needs and shelter. The amount of assistance paid is determined by family size, income and expenses.

Employment Assistance
Employment supports are available to help people become and stay employed. Funding and assistance may be available for community and employment placement, job searching, basic education or job-specific skills training, literacy training, supports to self-employment, Employment Readiness Scale, transportation, referrals to workshops and courses, Learning, Earning and Parenting (LEAP - a program offered to young parents) and addictions treatment.

Mandatory Benefits
Benefits prescribed in the Ontario Works provincial regulations include a monthly drug card, dental and vision care for dependent children, special diet, pregnancy nutritional allowance, diabetic supplies, incontinence supplies, medical travel and transportation, and guide dog allowance.

Discretionary Benefits:
Discretionary Health Benefits may include: adult vision and dental care, health and well-being benefits, new born / child benefits, and other items such as ID replacements.
Discretionary Residency Benefits may include: funding towards rent arrears, utility arrears, last month's rent deposit, moving expenses and emergency heating fuel.

Emergency Assistance
Emergency assistance may be paid to a person experiencing an extreme, urgent, and unusual situation that jeopardizes the health and well-being of a member of the benefit unit.

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

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

other services include:
Employment and Participation benefits -- cover costs related to starting a job or placement or education

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

Other services:

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

Helps low income individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and/or who require immediate and urgent assistance with:

• any rent, utility or heat service needs due to emergency, unforeseen or extenuating circumstances

Two types of assistance for people in financial need: Financial assistance: income support to help with the costs of basic needs, like food, clothing and shelter health benefits for clients and their families Employment assistance: to help clients find, prepare for and keep a job may include workshops on resume writing and interviewing, job counselling, job-specific skills training and access to basic education

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

Social Assistance - Financial and Employment assistance - programs to help people in temporary financial need find sustainable employment and achieve self-reliance through the provision of effective, integrated employment services and financial assistance

• Financial and Obtaining Employment Services
• Coordinate linkages with community services
• Linkage to employment services and opportunities
• Provide financial assistance to those who have been determined eligible
• Linkage to child care supports and social housing

Satellite office of the City of Kingston's Housing & Social Services Department, Ontario Works Program serving residents of Central and North Frontenac.

Financial Assistance
Temporary financial assistance to those most in need while they undertake requirements to become and stay employed. Monthly financial assistance is available to eligible (needs tested) residents for basic needs and shelter. The amount of assistance paid is determined by family size, income and expenses.

Employment Assistance
Employment supports are available to help people become and stay employed. Funding and assistance may be available for community and employment placement, job searching, basic education or job-specific skills training, literacy training, supports to self-employment, Employment Readiness Scale, transportation, referrals to workshops and courses, Learning, Earning and Parenting (LEAP - a program offered to young parents) and addictions treatment.

Mandatory Benefits
Benefits prescribed in the Ontario Works provincial regulations include monthly drug benefits, dental and vision care for dependent children, special diet, pregnancy nutritional allowance, diabetic supplies, incontinence supplies, medical travel and transportation, and guide dog allowance.

Discretionary Benefits:
Discretionary Health Benefits may include: adult vision and dental care, health and well-being benefits, new born / child benefits, and other items such as ID replacements.

Discretionary Residency Benefits may include: funding towards rent arrears, utility arrears, last month's rent deposit, moving expenses and emergency heating fuel.

Emergency Assistance
Emergency assistance may be paid to a person experiencing an extreme, urgent, and unusual situation that jeopardizes the health and well-being of a member of the benefit unit.

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

Program connects abused women and their children with community support to find and maintain safe housing. Supports include income support, court support, educational & parenting support, employmen and Legal Aid support.

Program connects abused women and their children with community support to find and maintain safe housing. Supports include income support, court support, educational & parenting support, employmen and Legal Aid support.

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.

Program provides addiction case management services coupled with a housing supplement to assistindividuals with problematic substance to secure and maintain safe stableindependent housing use who are homeless, at risk of homelessness orinadequately housed. The program is coordinated out of Belleville and providesa defined number of subsidies in Hastings/Prince Edward Counties,Kingston/Frontenac/Lennox & Addington and Lanark/Leeds and Grenville.

Program is not an emergency housing program and there is limited availability

Housing programs include:

Supportive Housing & Homelessness Program offers assistance with finding safe, affordable housing and/or subsidies as needed. This is an internal referral program.

Housing Resource & Co-ordination program will assist individuals with a mental health concern review listings and provide support with landlords and the application processes. Subsidies available for those who qualify.

Short-Term Residential Crisis Service Program is in collaboration with the Crisis Intervention Centre and can assist with short-term crisis housing for a person with a mental illness who have come into contact with the law.

Group Home services are provided at 2 homes providing supportive programming for life skills, daily routines and healthy living, social and organized planning with the expectation of residents to participate.

Financial assistance to low income homeowners by way of a forgivable loan in order to repair their home while improving the energy-efficiency of the unit and/or increase accessibility of their unit through modifications and adaptions.

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

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

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

Home Ownership program: assists low and moderate-income rental households to purchase affordable homes

• interest-free down payment assistance loans (maximum of $12,500)

Homelessness Prevention: helps low-income households, including social assistance recipients, facing homelessness, housing, and utility-related emergencies

• assistance with moving costs, rental and energy arrears

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