To qualify for a housing allowance

• be eligible for the centralized list for rent-geared-to-income (RGI) subsidy, or
• have an active application on the centralized waiting list

If you qualify and receive a housing allowance, you remain on the waiting list for RGI subsidy. There are two housing allowance programs in the City of Toronto. They are the Strong Communities Housing Allowance Program (SCHAP) - Toronto Pilot, and the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program. For both programs you do not apply directly. You may be contacted if you have already applied to the centralized waiting list, or are a client of the programs' referral agencies.

Strong Communities Housing Allowance Program - Toronto Pilot
This program gives an allowance to households who are currently spending at least 40% of their income on rent. If you qualify and receive an allowance, you do not have to move from your current unit. For this program, the City is focusing on assisting seniors 65 years and over. This program expires on March 31, 2011.

Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program*
This program is providing time limited, fixed amount assistance to approximately 1,300 households. The program is now full and is not currently accepting new applications.

The amount of the Allowance is determined by the unit size you move into.

• $250 for bachelor and 1-bedroom units
• $350 for 2-bedroom units
• $450 for units larger than 2 bedrooms

The allowances have been targeted to specific groups with clients referred by Toronto Social Services, Children's Aids Societies, Streets to Homes, Hostel Services and Violence Against Women funded agencies. The City has targeted individuals for Housing Allowances who fall into one of the following groups:

• Single parents receiving social assistance who are working, or are involved in education or employment training programs
• Victims of Violence
• Working Poor currently paying more than 40% of income to rent
• Current and former wards of Children's Aid Societies
• Homeless aboriginal individuals
• Homeless individuals with immuno-compromised conditions
• Youth enrolled in an academic, training, or vocational program
• Participants in the Transitions to Employment Program
• General category for shelter residents and Streets to Homes participants
• Homeless individuals leaving the criminal justice system

*Note that this program will be up and running by June, 2006.

For more information or to report errors on our Web site please contact us at socialhousing@toronto.ca