Date Issued Effective Date
December 23, 2011 January 1, 2012

Applicability to Social Housing Programs

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
X Rent Supplement Programs for Sections 26, 27, 95 and New Affordable Housing Providers
Toronto Community Housing Corporation

Please note: If your program is not checked, this City Guideline does not apply to your project.

Background

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 SHRA.

The key HSA regulations that apply to rent supplement programs are:

  • Regulation 367 – this includes some of the rules under which housing providers must administer the RGI assistance program.
  • Regulation 298 – Part VII only of the SHRA’s Regulation 298 becomes Regulation 298 under the HSA – this includes the rules for determining RGI rent as well as effective dates for rent changes.

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.

Housing providers administering rent supplement programs have signed Rent Supplement Agreements and RGI Service Agreements with the City. These Agreements will continue in effect.

Housing providers administering rent supplement programs are to continue complying with all current rules and policies, except the changes detailed (1 to 6) below:

  1. “Internal review” under the SHRA has been replaced by “review” by a “review body” in the HSA. Housing Providers will continue to conduct reviews of housing provider decisions as required by the RGI Service Agreement, but not reviews of decisions to remove RGI eligibility. The Social Housing Unit will issue a City Guideline on this subject.
  1. “Opportunity to comment” is not in the HSA. Housing providers will no longer give households an “opportunity to comment” on adverse decisions. There will no longer be any need to delay effective dates for mid-year review decisions because of the opportunity to comment.
  1. The SHRA section on “pursuit of income” has been renamed “failure to obtain income” in the HSA. Housing providers cannot ask households to apply for the Canada Pension Plan or private pensions, but must continue to ask households to apply for pensions that they may be eligible for under the Old Age Security Act. There is no change in the other types of income that a household can be asked to obtain.
  1. Overhoused households will not lose eligibility for RGI assistance during the first year after being notified by the housing provider that they are overhoused. The Social Housing Unit will issue a City Guideline on offer refusals by overhoused households.
  1. The service manager’s system for selecting households must include rules for providing RGI assistance to market rent households in designated social housing projects. The Social Housing Unit will issue a City Guideline on this subject.
  2. Housing providers can no longer refuse to offer a unit because they believe the physical characteristics of the unit or level of care available (for special needs households) make it unsuitable.

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 rent supplement 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.

Action Required

  1. Housing providers must comply with their RGI Service Agreements in their administration of the rent supplement program.
  2. Housing providers must administer the rent supplement program in accordance with all applicable City Guidelines.
  3. Housing providers must comply with the Housing Services Act and its regulations in the areas that are not subject to local rules (see background points 2, 3, 4 and 6) in their administration of the rent supplement program.
  4. Housing providers must comply with the rules in SHRA Regulation 298 in those areas where the HSA permits or requires local rules and where the City has not yet issued a City Guideline.
  5. Housing providers’ application forms and income and asset verification forms must include a declaration and consent to the collection of personal information for the purpose of administering the RGI assistance program.

Helpful Hints:

  • Refer to the RGI Guide on the social housing website to ensure that you are working with the current version.
  • Leases, letters and forms used after January 1, 2012 must include Housing Services Act references
  • City Guidelines are available on the City’s website.
  • The Housing Services Act is available at the Ontario e-laws website.
  • SHRA regulation 298 will be removed from e-laws once the HSA is proclaimed but will be available on the social housing website.
  • HSA regulations can be viewed at e-laws.gov.on.ca or by clicking on these links:
  • Ontario Regulation 367/11 – General
  • Ontario Regulation 298/01 – Determination of Geared-to-Income Rent Under Section 50 of the Act – only definitions and PART VII apply as of January 1, 2012
  • Ontario Regulation 369/11 – Subsidies for Part VII Providers
  • Ontario Regulation 368/11 – Designated Housing Projects – Section 68 of the Act
  • Ontario Regulation 370/11– High Needs Household and Household Income Limits – Subsection 40 (4) of the Act

Appendix A to City Guideline 2012-3
The Housing Services Act: Implications for City of Toronto Housing Providers with Rent Supplement Agreements

What is changing in legislation

The HSA gives service managers the authority to delegate RGI administration and waiting list management.

Is this a change for housing providers?

No.

Implications for Housing Providers

Housing providers must continue to comply with their Rent Supplement Agreements, RGI Service Agreements and City Guidelines.

What is changing in legislation

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”.

Is this a change for housing providers?

Yes.

Implications for Housing Providers

The City of Toronto is considering options for the review of housing provider decisions.

In the interim, the Social Housing Unit will review decisions about loss of eligibility for RGI assistance.

Housing providers will be responsible for the review of all other housing provider decisions.

A new City Guideline will direct housing providers to conduct procedurally fair reviews.

 

What is changing in legislation

Opportunity to comment provisions that were in Regulation 298 of the SHRA have been removed.

Is this a change for housing providers?

Yes.

Implications for Housing Providers

Housing providers 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.

What is changing in legislation

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.

Is this a change for housing providers?

No.

Implications for Housing Providers

Housing providers and households must continue to comply with City Guideline 2008-3.

What is changing in legislation

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.

Is this a change for housing providers?

Yes.

Implications for Housing Providers

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.

What is changing in legislation

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.

Is this a change for housing providers?

No.

Implications for Housing Providers

The two year rule in Regulation 298 will remain in effect.

What is changing in legislation

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.

Is this a change for housing providers?

No.

Implications for Housing Providers

The City of Toronto will review the absence from unit rule for possible changes in 2012.

In the interim, housing providers must continue to comply with City Guideline 2002-3 (revised June 1,2004).

What is changing in legislation

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:

  • during the first year after being notified by the housing provider that they are overhoused
  • if they are complying with the local rules for overhoused households

Is this a change for housing providers?

Yes.

Implications for Housing Providers

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 five preferences.

What is changing in legislation

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).

Is this a change for housing providers?

No.

Implications for Housing Providers

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.

What is changing in legislation

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).

Is this a change for housing providers?

No.

Implications for Housing Providers

The City of Toronto will review the local occupancy standards for possible changes in 2012.

In the interim, housing providers must continue complying with City Guideline 2011-1.

What is changing in legislation

The service manager must have a system for selecting households that includes a centralized waiting list.

Is this a change for housing providers?

No.

Implications for Housing Providers

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.

What is changing in legislation

The service manager’s rules may permit transfers from other service areas, if there is an exchange arrangement.

Is this a change for housing providers?

No.

Implications for Housing Providers

The City of Toronto is not considering an exchange system between service areas at this time.

What is changing in legislation

The service manager’s system for selecting households must include rules for providing RGI assistance to market rent households in designated social housing projects. These applicants must be on the centralized waiting list.

Housing providers will be able to provide RGI assistance if they have service manager consent. Allocation must be in accordance with the service manager’s priority rules.

Is this a change for housing providers?

Yes.

Implications for Housing Providers

The City of Toronto will issue a new City Guideline on allocating subsidy to in-situ market rent households.

 Housing providers must continue to comply with City Guideline 2003-11 (revised September 14, 2007) – Social Housing Market Households Applying for RGI Subsidy.

What is changing in legislation

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.

Is this a change for housing providers?

Yes.

Implications for Housing Providers

Housing providers 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.

What is changing in legislation

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.

Is this a change for housing providers?

No.

Implications for Housing Providers

The City of Toronto is currently reviewing the access system, including local access priorities.

In the interim, housing providers must continue complying with City Guideline 2003-4 Local Access Priorities.

What is changing in legislation

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.

Is this a change for housing providers?

No.

Implications for Housing Providers

The Province is continuing work on a redesigned income tax based RGI program.

Questions

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