Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB)

If you need emergency shelter, call Central Intake at 416-338-4766.

 

The Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB) is a rent supplement supported with funding from the federal and provincial governments that provides households with a portable housing benefit to assist with rental costs in the private rental housing market. The COHB pays the difference between 30 per cent of a household’s income and the average market rent in the area. The benefit can be used to help pay rent anywhere in Ontario.

Each year the Province of Ontario permits the City to enroll an announced number of households into the COHB program. Since its launch in April 2020, the City-administered COHB program has helped more than 8,400 households transition to permanent housing.

The process to apply for COHB can vary depending on the municipality. In Toronto, the application process is referral-based and not open to the general public. If you have questions about the referral-based application process, call the City’s Application Support Centre at 416-338-8888.

Learn more and apply for subsidized housing, and explore other housing benefits that help residents with the cost of living.

  • In Toronto, the application process is referral-based and not open to the public. To apply for COHB, qualifying households must be working with a referral agency and be prioritized for an allocation. With the limited number of allocations agencies get each month, they will invite qualifying households to apply and assist them through the referral process.
  • To be considered for COHB, you must be on or qualify to be on the Centralized Waiting List for social housing. If you are approved and accept COHB, you must agree to be removed from the Centralized Waiting List, per the Province’s program guidelines.
  • Priority is given to persons experiencing chronic homelessness (six months or more of homelessness), survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking, and Indigenous households.
  • The exact benefit amount is determined based on the size of the household, combined income, and monthly shelter costs (rent and utilities).

For households currently receiving COHB, call the Ontario’s Ministry of Finance if you have questions about your benefit or need to update your household information: 1-888-544-5101 or 1-800-263-7776 (TTY).

Mandatory annual renewal

There are two steps to completing the annual renewal process for your COHB benefit: submit the renewal forms and file your personal federal income tax.

1. Submit renewal forms

  • Every year, program eligibility and the amount of COHB benefit is reassessed. In May, COHB participants are sent an annual renewal application form by the Ministry of Finance via email or mail. The form requires households review all pre-printed information and to report any changes to their household composition, address, monthly rent amount and income.
  • Renewal forms must be mailed to the Ministry of Finance at:
    Portable Housing Benefit
    c/o Ontario Ministry of Finance
    33 King St. W., PO Box 628
    Oshawa ON L1H 8J6

2. File personal income tax

    • All members of a household over 17 years old must file a federal income tax return for the most recent tax year. If household members have not filed their income taxes yet, this should be done immediately to ensure they continue to receive the COHB.
    • If you need help completing and filing your income tax, find a tax clinic in your area or visit a Housing Help Centre.

    Renewal deadline

    • Recipients may lose eligibility for the COHB if they fail to submit a renewal application by the deadline. The Ministry of Finance will provide several reminders and opportunities to submit the annual renewal in advance of the final deadline on September 1.
    • Households that do not renew by June 30 will not receive payments until the renewal is completed. If clients do not return their annual renewal application by September 1, they will no longer be eligible to receive assistance through the COHB program. Reinstatement into the program is not permitted, as per Provincial program guidelines.
    • If your household did not receive a renewal form, contact the Ministry of Finance at 1-888-544-5101.