Updated December 2009

Shelter Fund
Shelter Fund - Leaving Ontario Works for Employment

• Background
• Highlights
• Access to Shelter Fund
• Access to Shelter Fund - Leaving Ontario Works for Employment

Background

In July 1998, the federal government introduced the National Child Benefit (NCB) program. The National Child Benefit Supplement (NCBS) portion was chargeable income until July 2008 for social assistance purposes.

As part of the program, the province made a commitment to reinvest social assistance savings into programs that benefit low income families with children. Municipalities were encouraged to use its savings in a similar manner.

Employment and Social Services recognizes that stable housing is essential to the well being of all low income residents, especially those with children.

Employment and Social Services established the Shelter Fund with the intent of:

• Helping clients without permanent shelter to obtain it;
• Helping clients with appropriate shelter to maintain it and not be evicted;
• Helping clients wishing to relocate to more affordable/appropriate shelter when needed.

Shelter Fund is an evolving program which is reviewed on a regular basis for expenditures and types of issuances and revisions and clarifications are made as required. This document details the clarification of eligibility criteria for the two components of the Shelter Fund.

Highlights

General Eligibility Criteria

• Families with dependent children
• In receipt of social assistance or have eligibility for social assistance

Program Eligibility

The NCBS savings were used to establish the original Shelter Fund (which also funds the Shelter Fund-Leaving Ontario Works for Employment). The intent of the Shelter Fund is to assist clients in becoming independent from social assistance. The Shelter Fund and the Shelter Fund-Leaving Ontario Works for Employment are both one time payments that have different procedures which are identified below:

Access to Shelter Fund

These funds are generally one time payments and should be issued to assist families with dependent children who have identified housing needs in which additional start-up funds are required after establishing a new permanent residence or to maintain current housing, if appropriate to avoid eviction.

• Moving into boarding or rented accommodation available in the community that is not a per diem funded residence, such as group homes or hostels;
• Being discharged from premises that meet the definition of an acceptable institution or approved facility;
• Leaving a harmful situation;
• Moving in order to significantly improve his or her living situation;
• The maintenance of current housing if appropriate to avoid an eviction.

Procedures for Assessing Shelter Fund Needs

The caseworker with the client will determine the total funds necessary to stabilize their housing needs.

The total housing needs of clients must be assessed.

• Last month's rent deposit
• Fuel and hydro deposits (i.e., establishing new account for services)
• Rental, utility, or fuel arrears, including any associated costs
• Moving and storage costs
• Household furnishings such as beds, dressers, table and chairs etc.
• Settlement costs such as bedding, dishes, small appliances, clothing etc.
• Any other costs approved by the Administrator

In order to assist with establishing a new permanent residence, Community Start Up and Maintenance Benefit (CSUMB) is accessed first. If there is still an identified housing need just after establishing a new permanent residence, then Shelter Fund can be accessed once (up to a maximum of $1,500) in a twenty-four month period.

Benefits are provided to support a reasonable expectation that the client can sustain current or prospective accommodations over the long term. Benefits may be provided on the condition that the client seeks additional assistance or resources to address ongoing issues related to frequent evictions, accumulation of arrears, or inability to retain permanent housing.

Employment and Social Services recognizes that due to the current housing market clients may only be able to secure accommodations where housing costs exceed legislative Shelter Allowance and in some cases the shelter costs can be extremely high. The caseworker along with the client, should develop a Service Plan to assist the client in managing shelter costs.

Administrative Procedures

• The caseworker and the client are to determine the total housing costs.
• The client presents the required documentation e.g., eviction notice, promise of address, arrears notice.
• In cases of rental arrears or utility arrears, a Service Plan is to be developed in order that the situation does not reoccur.
• In cases of rental or utility arrears, these funds are to be paid directly to the landlord or the utility company. Future monthly payments are to be established as a pay direct.

Persons with dependent children in receipt of Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) may also be eligible for the Shelter Fund. They should contact their ODSP caseworkers who will make arrangements with Employment and Social Services.

Access to Shelter Fund - Leaving Ontario Works for Employment

The Shelter Fund - Leaving Ontario Works for Employment can be granted to:

• Families with dependent children who have accommodation costs in excess of the legislated Shelter Allowance and who are leaving Ontario Works for full time employment.

Families can only receive the Shelter Fund- Leaving for Employment once in their lifetime. The intent of the payment is to assist the client through the transition from Ontario Works to ongoing permanent employment.

Procedures for Assessing Shelter Fund - Leaving Ontario Works for Employment

The Shelter Fund - Leaving Ontario Works for Employment is issued to families with dependent children who have accommodation costs in excess of the legislated Shelter Allowance and who are leaving Ontario Works for full time employment.

The amount to be issued is a flat rate, based on family size, as outlined in the following chart:

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