Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB)

The Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB) is a funding program administered by the Province of Ontario that started on April 1, 2020. The program started its fifth year in October 2024. The City of Toronto’s current COHB allocation for Year 5 has been fully allocated and the program is temporarily closed to new applications.

For information about other housing benefits and supports, please visit the City’s Subsidized Housing and Housing Benefits website.

For households receiving COHB, call the Ontario’s Ministry of Finance if you have questions about your benefit or to provide updated household information.

1-888-544-5101

1 800 263-7776 (TTY)

All households currently receiving COHB must complete an Annual Renewal each year to ensure continuation of their COHB benefits.

There are two steps to completing the Annual Renewal process:

1. Submission of Renewal Forms

• Every May, program participants are sent an Annual Renewal Application form by email or mail.
• Eligibility and COHB Benefit amount is re-assessed yearly during this renewal process.
• The Annual Renewal form requires households review all pre-printed information and to report any changes to their household composition, address, rental amount and income.
• Renewal forms must be submitted to the Province by June 30th. Paper Renewal forms should be mailed to:

Portable Housing Benefit
33 King St W, PO Box 628
Oshawa ON L1H 8J6

• Recipients may lose eligibility for the COHB if they fail to submit a renewal application by the deadline.

2. Completion of Federal Income Tax return

All members of the household over 17 must file a federal income tax return for the most recent year.

If household members have not filed their 2024 income taxes yet, this should be done immediately to ensure they continue to receive the COHB.

The following resources can be used to locate and schedule an appointment to complete income tax returns.

To find a Community Tax Clinic, please visit:

Community Tax Clinics 

To find a Housing Help Centre, please visit:

Housing Help Centers

The Province will provide several reminders and opportunities for you to submit your annual renewal in advance of the final September 1st deadline. Households that do not renew by June 30 will not receive payments until the renewal is completed. Unfortunately, clients who do not return their annual renewal application by the September 1st deadline will no longer be eligible to receive assistance through the COHB program. Reinstatement into the program is not permitted, as per Provincial program guidelines.

Please contact the Province at 1-888-544-5101 if a renewal form was not received, if you have questions about your benefit or to provide updated household information.”