Searching for Utility Assistance Programs

Provides financial assistance to individuals or families who are homeless or facing homelessness to obtain or maintain housing

To establish a new residence:

• financial assistance for first/last months rent
• financial assistance for utility deposit
• financial assistance for moving/storage expenses

To avoid eviction or disconnection of utilities:

• financial assistance for rental arrears
• financial assistance for utility and fuel arrears (gas, hydro, water, propane, oil or wood)

• Provides support to individuals and families who are homeless or at imminent risk of becoming homeless due to a crisis situation
• Addresses the immediate crisis and stabilizes the household
• Identifies areas of concern where an individual or family may require additional supports
• Serves as the entry point for all other services

Offers the following services:

Housing sustainability plan

• An assessment is completed to determine the current housing and financial status of the household and the short and long-term interventions and resources required to stabilize the household

Advocacy

• Works with individuals, families and partner agencies to find alternate solutions to resolve conflicts that do not always involve the need for funding

Imminent Housing acquisition and stabilization

• Targets individuals who have been released from the hospital, detoxification programs, or the justice system
• Provides immediate housing and stabilization tools, such as prescriptions, food, and household starter packs

Rent Arrears

• Can only be accessed once the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative (CHPI) has been exhausted
• Individuals and families can access on a sliding scale up to two months of rent arrears

Community Housing Guarantee Program

• Ensures landlords receive last months rent in order to provide an incentive to house individuals and families who are in difficult financial situations but require housing

Landlord Liaison

• Liaises with public and private landlords to help individuals or families who are at risk of eviction either remain housed or find and secure housing

Vacancy List

• Responsible for producing a daily Vacancy List and distributing it to partners across the District

Energy Fund

• Provides intervention prior to the disconnection of utilities in order to save money and avoid shelter stays and large deposit requirements

Housing success Facilitators

• Facilitators respond to crisis intervention requests and take part in crisis assessments where expertise is required to ensure the best support services are utilized

Immediate Stabilization Tool-Kit

• Provides households with items that ensure a house remains functional, such as appliances, prescriptions, and household starter packs

Hoarding Response Team

• Responds to suspected cases of hoarding, only when the local fire department has been contacted

Recovery Bank

A joint initiative between LIPI and the Near North Landlords Association providing assistance to both landlords and tenants who have struggled financially due to the COVID-19 pandemic

• Accepting applications from tenants with rent and/or utility arrears
• Accepting applications from the tenants' landlords with rent arrears

Application form can be found online here
Appointments can be made by phone for those without computer access

Property Tax Hardship Program

Provides assistance to North Bay households with property tax arrears on primary residence, due to the COVID-19 pandemic

• Program will match taxpayer payments made to property tax account
• Maximum contribution of 50% of tax arrears determined at time of application
• Arrears prior to February 1, 2020 are not eligible for the program
• Payments will be made directly to City on behalf of taxpayer

Application form can be found online here

Offers programs to financially assist those in need:

• Ontario Works (OW) - Provides financial assistance and employment and life stabilization supports to assist individuals with their basic needs and accommodation while focusing on obtaining paid employment. The Ontario Works Program also makes referrals to the Ontario Disability Support Program for those individuals with a health problem that prevents them from seeking employment.
  
• Emergency assistance is also available to people who are in a crisis or an emergency situation (e.g. people who have lost their homes, are leaving an abusive relationship and/or are worried about their safety)
  
• Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) - Assists those that are homeless or at risk of being homeless with financial assistance with rent or mortgage arrears, hydro, oil, propane or other items or services that may prevent homelessness.

Also an intake agency for the Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP), a program that reduces the electricity bill of lower-income homes. Provides a monthly credit to eligible customers based on household income and size. Credit will apply directly to eligible customer's electricity bills.

Works to meet the immediate and basic needs of people.

Food bank can be accessed once a month. Delivery of food available to housebound individuals.

Provides emergency financial assistance to individuals and families for expenses related to housing and health including utility and rental arrears, medical and dental expenses.

Works cooperatively with the Table Food Kitchen, Salvation Army, Knights of Columbus, Faith Baptist Church and the District of Muskoka Community Services to find resources for those in need. Also provides budget counselling.

Christmas hamper program: provides food hamper, food voucher and gift cards for each child. Families without children receive food hamper and food voucher. Hampers can be picked up at St Mary's. Hampers will also be delivered by the Knights of Columbus for those unable to pick up .

Offers programs to financially assist those in need:

• Ontario Works (OW) - Provides financial assistance and employment and life stabilization supports to assist individuals with their basic needs and accommodation while focusing on obtaining paid employment. The Ontario Works Program also makes referrals to the Ontario Disability Support Program for those individuals with a health problem that prevents them from seeking employment.
  
• Emergency assistance is also available to people who are in a crisis or an emergency situation (e.g. people who have lost their homes, are leaving an abusive relationship and/or are worried about their safety)
  
• Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) - Assists those that are homeless or at risk of being homeless with financial assistance with rent or mortgage arrears, hydro, oil, propane or other items or services that may prevent homelessness.

Also an intake agency for the Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP), a program that reduces the electricity bill of lower-income homes. Provides a monthly credit to eligible customers based on household income and size. Credit will apply directly to eligible customer's electricity bills.

Provides financial assistance for rental and/or utility arrears, utility connection fees or financial assistance towards first/last month's rent to secure permanent housing for individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and are considered low income but not on Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) benefits

COVID-19 Response
For the latest updates on all District program and service impacts, visit www.muskoka.on.ca/coronavirus
or by calling 705-645-2100 or by email at info@muskoka.on.ca.

Regular Service
The Community and Planning Services Department has responsibilities for Community Services including Social Assistance, Children's Services, Housing (including Affordable Housing Programs) and Seniors Programs and Services.

Social Assistance:
Ontario Works is a form of social assistance and helps people who are in financial need. View separate record here.

Housing Division:

• Case Managers work one-on-one with homeless individuals to secure housing.
• Transitional Housing (Alex's Place) provides safe, affordable and supportive housing on temporary basis for young people aged 16 to 24 that are at risk of or experiencing homelessness. See website for more information.
• Social Housing Program provides affordable rental housing for people whose income prevents them from finding adequate housing in the private rental market (through rent-geared-to-income or subsidies).
• Offers the Rent Supplement program to tenants providing eligible applicants with a monthly Rent Supplement that is paid directly to their landlord.
• Offers Gateway Homeownership Program (Forgivable loan program to assist with down payment of affordable housing).
• Offers Ontario Renovates Program (Program for low and modest income households that provides funding for necessary home repairs, home accessibility modifications for persons with disabilities and for the purchase and installation of energy-saving products).
• Offers Capital Incentive Funding for developers, builders and home owners toward new homes for sale or personal use.

Housing Support Fund:

• Offers one time assistance to avoid arrears, eviction or secure permanent housing.
• Utility and mortgage assistance may be available for heat, hydro, water, mortgage, utility deposits or other one-time or unusual costs - check I Need Help - Emergency Assistance and Homelessness webpage for more information.
• Has a homelessness community worker to assist individuals with housing information, eviction prevention, rent supplement, and housing allowance programs.

Children's Programs and Services:

• The District of Muskoka is responsible for Muskoka's Child Care system. Offers programs, subsidies and information for parents and child care providers. In addition to Licensed Child Care Centres, there are options for licensed home based child care through the Muskoka Home Child Care Agency or through YMCA Simcoe Muskoka.
• Offers subsidized child care assistance to working or in-school residents in the form of a fee subsidy.
• Offers EarlyON Programs throughout Muskoka communities. For programming schedules and locations or to learn more, visit: https://www.muskoka.on.ca/en/community-and-social-services/earlyon.aspx.

Senior's Programs and Services:
The District of Muskoka's Seniors Programs and Services help support health and well-being, socialization, and community engagement for seniors in Muskoka. Provincially designated as a Senior's Mobile Active Living Centre, brings programming to various locations throughout Muskoka. For programming schedules and locations or to learn more, visit: https://www.muskoka.on.ca/en/community-and-social-services/Seniors-Programs-and-Services.aspx.

Community Hubs
There are three Community Service Hubs located throughout Muskoka:

• Gravenhurst: 141 Main St.
• Bracebridge: 70 Pine St.
• Huntsville: 1 King William St. Suite 5

A discretionary fund available to provide individuals in the District of Muskoka, who are experiencing or are at-risk of poverty, emergency financial assistance with modest one-time grants to address basic needs including:

• food security (e.g. grocery gift card, baby food, etc.);
• transportation (e.g. gas gift card, taxi voucher, bus ticket, medical transportation, etc.);
• basic needs (e.g. clothing, cleaning supplies, personal hygiene supplies, footwear, etc.) including delivery of items;
• social integration (e.g. access to a cellphone or phone cards, computer rentals, etc.);
• health and wellness (e.g. medication, emergency dental, eyeglasses, etc.);
• housing start-up costs (e.g. furniture, kitchen supplies, bedding, mattress, etc.);
• child care;
• family supports (e.g. parenting courses, educational resources and supplies for children/youth);
• personal Identification (e.g. birth certificate, health card, SIN, driver's license);
• student assistance for elementary and high school students (books, supplies, registration / application fees); and/or,
• mental health supports;
• income tax filing costs;
• utilities

Requests for assistance will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Private donations and fundraising for this program provides:

• funding to help people through financial crisis such as assistance with the cost of shelter, transportation, heat, utilities, prescriptions, transportation to medical specialist appointments
• furniture bank list of gently used furniture and household donations which are matched with families in need

Provides assistance to residents through a range of services for housing related needs, including:

• help to maintain housing
• help to find housing
• help with financial assistance
• help for landlords
• help with support services
• help with emergency housing

Assistance with heat and hydro emergencies including:

• financial problem solving
• grants
• firewood delivery
• advocacy with utility companies
• intake for OESP and LEAP applications
• referrals and information on other services and information on consumer rights
• support for access to benefits (photocopying, making phone calls, completing forms)
• some assistance with service navigation available

Housing Resource Centre to assist those looking for permanent housing, services include:

• assistance with accessing funding for rent related expenses
• assistance with accessing funding for utility related expenses. Intake provided in some areas
• assistance with accessing funding for support services needed for individuals with a disability or mental illness who are unable to live independently without care, supervision and/or support
• landlord/tenant mediation
• referrals to community resources
• maintaining a landlord registry
• maintaining a housing registry of houses, townhouses, apartments, rooms and shared accommodation
• assistance with applications for subsidized housing which must be forwarded by client
• assistance with applications for Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP)
• Member of the Simcoe County Alliance to End Homelessness

Outreach Locations
Housing Access Workers also provide support through other community agencies

• Midland Public Library - Tue 9:30 am-12:30 pm
• see Outreach Locations - Drop-in

Housing Resource Centre to assist those looking for permanent housing, services include:

• assistance with accessing funding for rent related expenses
• assistance with accessing funding for utility related expenses. Intake provided in some areas
• assistance with accessing funding for support services needed for individuals with a disability or mental illness who are unable to live independently without care, supervision and/or support
• landlord/tenant mediation
• referrals to community resources
• maintaining a landlord registry
• maintaining a housing registry of houses, townhouses, apartments, rooms and shared accommodation
• assistance with applications for subsidized housing which must be forwarded by client
• assistance with applications for Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP)
• Member of the Simcoe County Alliance to End Homelessness

Outreach Locations
Housing Access Workers also provide support through other community agencies

• Orillia Public Library - Thu 12:30 pm-3 pm
• Ontario Works (Orillia Office) - Tue 12:30 pm-3 pm
• see Outreach Locations - Drop-in

Provides short term one time assistance for hydro arrears or disconnection, rental arrears to avoid eviction as well as other emergency situations

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

Grant program provides emergency relief to eligible low-income customers who may be experiencing difficulty paying current utility arrears, intended to be applied to outstanding utility bill payments, not intended to provide regular or ongoing bill payment assistance

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

Service offered:

• Food Bank
• Clothing and furniture vouchers for the Thrift Store
• Utility bill assistance
• Free Birth Certificate Program
• Emergency transportation
• Community Outreach through the Community Response Unit (CRU) - see separate 2-1-1 listing
• Counseling service and referral
• Free Community Volunteer Income Tax Program - see separate 2-1-1 listing
• Works with local organizations for emergency accommodations and shelters
• Connections to other Army Centers and Programs i.e. Hope Acres Drug Rehabilitation, Correctional/Bail Program etc
• Summer Adventure Camp opportunities
• Christmas Hamper program is administered during November and December - see separate 2-1-1 listing

An Ontario Works delivery agent for financial assistance and emergency housing. The Transitional Support Fund (TSF) provides aid to social assistance recipients and low-­income families who require housing related supports such as:

• rent
• deposits
• fuel and hydro deposits
• establishing a new residence
• prevention of disconnection or reconnection costs of hydro or heating costs
• shelter or hydro arrears

Financial Relief Navigator (FRN)

• online tool that provides information and help to access emergency benefits, related to COVID-19, including Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB), Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB), and Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS), as well as other benefits and financial relief from governments, financial institutions, utilities, telecoms and internet providers
• Click HERE for more information

Canada's COVID-19 Economic Response Plan
Plan provides programs in the following three areas:

• Support for Individuals
• Support for Businesses
• Support for Sectors

Support for Individuals
CRB ended Oct 23, 2021, in its place is the Canadian Worker Lockdown Benefit:

• Canadian Worker Lockdown Benefit:
  • will provide $300 per week to workers who are subject to a lockdown, including those who are ineligible for traditional Employment Insurance
• Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CRSB)
  • available to those who need to self-isolate due to COVID-19 will continue until Nov 20, 2021 and is proposed by government to extend until May 7, 2022
  • to apply see CRSB Application
  • for other questions about CRSB see, CRSB Questions
• Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRCB)
  • available to those who must stop work to care for a child under 12 or a family member who needs supervised care, will continue until Nov 20, 2021 and is proposed by government to extend until May 7, 2022
  • to apply see CRCB Application
  • for other question about CRCB see, CRCB Questions

Canada Student Loans

• see Canada Student Loans - COVID-19 for details
• see Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) for Ontario Students

Support for Seniors

• Government of Canada has introduced legislation to support low-income seniors who received pandemic benefits. For information about a One-Time Grant for Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) Recipients click here.

Provincial Programs
Social Assistance

• Visit Ontario Works and ODSP for up-to-date information and to apply online

Workplace Safety and Insurance Board Ontario (WSIB)

• If you believe you contracted COVID-19 while at work, you may file a claim to determine if you are eligible for WSIB coverage, call 1-800-387-0750 or visit WSIB Benefits for more information

Service Ontario

• Service Ontario is reinstating renewal requirements for driver's licences, licence plate stickers, other driver and vehicle products, Ontario Photo Cards and Ontario health cards that were temporarily extended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, see Renewal Requirements

OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan)

• Ontario has waived the three-month waiting period for Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) coverage, see Applying for an Ontario Health Card for more details

Utilities Relief
Ontario Energy Board

• See Help for Low-Income Consumers

Telecommunications Relief

• Telus COVID-19 Updates
• Rogers COVID-19 Updates
• If your telecommunications company is not listed here, check their website or contact them directly to learn of any assistance they may be offering

Access centre to apply for LEAP (Low-Income Energy Assistance Program) emergency financial assistance

• program runs from January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2023 or until funds are depleted
• grant is credited directly toward energy bill
• agency can arrange hold on a disconnection notice while a case is being assessed
• length of hold depends on utility company
• all decisions can be appealed
• Assistance through LEAP program is no longer limited to being received only once in a calendar year, but maiximum amounts have changed
  • Gas customers can receive up to $500 on past due balance
  • Customers who heat with electricity can receive up to $600 on past due balance
  • Eligible customers can apply more than once up to the maximum grant amounts