| Date Issued | Effective Date |
|---|---|
| December 23, 2011 | January 1, 2012 |
The policies and procedures in this City Guideline are to be implemented under the following programs.
| Applicability | Program |
|---|---|
| Housing Services Act, Part VII Housing Projects, Market and Rent-Geared-to-Income, Section 78 Housing Providers (formerly 110) | |
| Housing Services Act, Part VII Housing Projects, 100% Rent-Geared-to-Income, Section 78 Housing Providers (formerly 110) | |
| Federal Non-Profit Housing, Section 26/27 | |
| Federal Non-Profit Housing, Section 95 | |
| Rent Supplement Programs for Sections 26, 27, 95 and New Affordable Housing Providers | |
| X | Toronto Community Housing Corporation |
Please note: If your program is not checked, this City Guideline does not apply to your project.
The Housing Services Act, 2011 (HSA) is expected to be proclaimed on January 1, 2012. It will replace the Social Housing Reform Act (SHRA). The HSA and its regulations will govern the administration of the City of Toronto’s social housing programs. This City Guideline is being issued to provide direction to continue with legislative, regulatory and City policies that were created by or under the authority of the Social Housing Reform Act.
The key regulations of the HSA that apply to TCHC are:
The HSA allows municipal service managers to make more local rules than were authorized under the SHRA. Where it is necessary as a transitional measure, the City is adopting the provisions of the SHRA and regulations as its local rule or policy under the HSA. If the City decides to change a local rule or create a new local rule, the Social Housing Unit will issue a new City Guideline. Agreements signed by the City of Toronto and TCHC will remain in effect.
TCHC must continue complying with all current rules and policies, except the changes detailed (1 to 6) below:
The HSA permits but does not require housing providers to obtain consent to collect personal information for the purpose of administering the RGI assistance program. This City Guideline provides direction to include a consent statement in application forms and income and asset verification forms.
A chart that details the changes under the Housing Services Act and the implications for housing providers is attached to this City Guideline as Appendix A.
The City of Toronto’s RGI Guide has been updated to reflect the changes in RGI administration.
The HSA gives service managers the authority to delegate RGI administration and waiting list management.
No.
TCHC must continue to comply with their Operating Agreement and City Guidelines.
The service manager must have a system to review decisions about eligibility for RGI assistance and RGI rent, when requested by a member of a household.
The system must include a review body.
“Internal review” has been replaced by “review”.
Yes.
TCHC will have a review body for the review of their decisions.
A new City Guideline will direct TCHC to conduct procedurally fair reviews.
Opportunity to comment provisions that were in Regulation 298 of the SHRA have been removed.
Yes.
TCHC will no longer give households an “opportunity to comment” on adverse decisions.
There will no longer be any need to delay effective dates because of the opportunity to comment.
A decision to increase rent (annual review) will be effective on the first day of the second month following the notice of decision.
A decision to increase rent (mid-year review) will be effective on the first day of the second month after the change in income.
Households must report changes within 30 days or such longer period as the service manager may allow.
The City of Toronto chose 30 days as the time period for reporting changes.
No.
TCHC and households must continue to comply with City Guideline 2008-3.
In the SHRA, Regulation 298, this section was titled: failure to pursue income. The intent remains the same.
Households are required to try to obtain pension income under Part I or II of the Old Age Security Act.
Yes.
Households do not have to try to obtain income from Canada Pension Plan or private pensions since they do not fall under the Old Age Security Act.
The Act permits service managers to have a local rule that a household is not eligible for RGI assistance if a household member was convicted of an offence related to receipt of RGI assistance.
No.
The two year rule in Regulation 298 will remain in effect.
In the SHRA, Regulation 298, a service manager’s local rule could set a maximum number of consecutive days of absence. Under the HSA, the rule can also set out a maximum number of days per year of absence, or both.
At present, the City of Toronto’s local rule permits 120 days of consecutive absence.
No.
The City of Toronto will review the absence from unit rule for possible changes in 2012.
In the interim, TCHC must continue to comply with City Guideline 2002-3 (revised June 1, 2004)
Under the SHRA Regulation 298, overhoused households cease to meet occupancy standards and are required to move in order to maintain RGI eligibility.
Under the HSA, Service managers may decide if and when overhoused households cease to meet occupancy standards and are required to move.
Overhoused households will not lose eligibility for RGI assistance:
No.
The current rules for overhoused households in Regulation 298 will stay in effect, except that households who refuse 3 offers cannot lose eligibility for RGI until they have been overhoused for 12 months.
The City of Toronto will review the rules for ceasing to meet occupancy standards for possible changes in 2012.
One year after they are notified that they are overhoused, households must be placed on the centralized waiting list and must select 5 preferences.
Under the SHRA, Regulation 298, a household loses eligibility if the household refuses three offers.
Under the HSA, the service manager can decide how many offers a household can refuse before losing eligibility for RGI (must be at least three).
No.
Households will lose eligibility for RGI assistance if they refuse three offers.
The City of Toronto will review the rules for refusal of offers for possible changes in 2012.
There are no longer any default occupancy standards in regulation. Each service manager must adopt occupancy standards.
The City of Toronto adopted local occupancy standards in 2002, amended in 2011 (City Guideline 2011-1).
No.
The City of Toronto will review the local occupancy standards for possible changes in 2012.
In the interim, TCHC must continue complying with City Guideline 2011-1.
The service manager must have a system for selecting households that includes a centralized waiting list.
Pending the results of a full access review now underway.
No.
The City of Toronto is currently reviewing the access system. In the interim, the City of Toronto will continue with the current waiting list system managed by Access to Housing (formerly Housing Connections), including the local access priorities.
The system must include rules for how housing providers will select households to receive RGI.
No.
The current rules for selecting tenants in Regulation 339 will stay in effect, with some exceptions (see “Internal Transfers”, “Market rent households in social housing” and “System Requirements – Refusal by Housing Provider” below).
The service manager’s rules may permit transfers from other service areas, if there is an exchange arrangement. The rules would provide for the ranking.
No.
The City of Toronto is not considering an exchange system between service areas at this time.
A service manager’s system for selecting waiting households may include rules on when to offer vacant units to internal transfer applicants.
No.
The City of Toronto will review procedures for internal transfer for possible changes in 2012.
In the interim, TCHC must continue to follow existing internal transfer rules in the SHRA, Regulation 339.
Under the SHRA, a housing provider could refuse to offer a unit if they deemed it to be unsuitable for an applicant (physical characteristics of the unit or level of care).
This is not present in the HSA.
Yes.
TCHC can no longer refuse to offer a unit because they believe the physical characteristics of the unit or level of care available make it unsuitable (non-special needs units).
Note: Special needs applicants can still be screened for level of care required.
The service manager’s system for selecting households must give first priority to Special Priority applicants who are victims of abuse.
As before, the service manager’s local access priorities will not take precedence over Special Priority.
No.
The City of Toronto is currently reviewing the access system, including local access priorities.
In the interim, TCHC must continue complying with City Guideline 2003-4 Local Access Priorities.
Section VII of the SHRA Regulation 298 stays in effect. Title is changed to Determination of Geared-to-Income Rent Under Section 50 of the Act.
The rest of the Regulation is revoked and replaced by Regulation 367.
No.
The province is continuing work on a redesigned income tax based RGI program.
If you have any questions, please contact your Housing Consultant or the HSS:
Housing Stability Services
Shelter, Support & Housing Administration
City of Toronto
365 Bloor Street East, 15th floor
Toronto, ON M4W 3L4
Telephone: 416-392-4126
Email: HSS@toronto.ca
Website: www.toronto.ca/socialhousing