Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB)

If you need emergency shelter or respite, call Central Intake at 416-338-4766. For street outreach services, call 311.

The Canada Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB) program provides households with a portable housing benefit to assist with rental costs in the private housing market. The benefit is tied to the household and can be used to help pay rent anywhere in Ontario.

This provincially administered benefit is available to eligible priority groups who are on, or are eligible to be on, the Centralized Waiting List for Rent Geared-to-Income subsidized housing.

The COHB pays the difference between 30 per cent of the household’s income and the average market rent in the area. For recipients of social assistance, the COHB benefit will fill the gap between the social assistance shelter allowance and actual shelter costs, up to the maximum benefit amount.

This is a closed application process, and the benefit is not available to the general public.

The City of Toronto’s Year 5 COHB program is now accepting referrals. Eligible applicants will be contacted directly by City of Toronto staff or eligible referring Community Partners.

  • COHB applicants must reside in Ontario and be on, or eligible to be on, the Centralized Waiting List for social housing.
  • Priority will be given to the following groups:
    • Persons experiencing homelessness
    • Survivors of gender-based violence and human trafficking
    • Indigenous persons
  • The benefit amount will depend on the recipient’s household size and income. The amount is calculated using a formula that includes household income, the number of people in the household and the local housing market rents in the Service Manager Area. Use the Benefits Calculator on the next tab to estimate the benefit amount that an eligible applicant may be entitled to.
  • To receive the COHB, applicants must agree to be removed from the Centralized Waiting List as required by Provincial program guidelines.
  • Applicants on the Central Wait List with Special Priority Program (SPP) status are now exempted from this requirement and may keep their place on the CWL.
  • Households cannot be receiving COHB and Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) housing or any other form of housing benefit at the same time.
  • COHB is a portable benefit, which means that it will continue to support recipients wherever they move in Ontario. The benefit amount may change to reflect the average local market rent.
  • The COHB program is currently funded until March 31, 2029.
  • For further information you may contact the City of Toronto’s Application Support Centre. Telephone: 416-338-8888

This City of Toronto COHB Benefits Calculator may be used to assist households eligible for COHB to estimate their expected benefit.

The application process is not open to the public.

The City of Toronto and eligible referring Community Partners will be contacting eligible applicants from the following identified priority groups about COHB based on the availability of benefits:

  • Persons experiencing homelessness
  • Survivors of gender-base violence and human trafficking
  • Indigenous persons

Contacted applicants will require the following documents to submit an application for COHB:

For all applicants

  • Your complete current address or the one you plan to move to
  • Rental costs
  • Utility costs (if paid directly by household)
  • Mailing address
  • Banking information (Banking information can be found on a cheque)

For each household income earner (who are not full time students):

  • Their Canada Revenue Agency 2023 Notice of Assessment
  • Social Insurance Number
  • Their own email address

For recipients of social assistance:

  • Shelter allowance amount 

There is a limited number of benefits available. If you have been contacted as an eligible applicant, you are encouraged to begin your application process as soon as possible to avoid missing out.

If you have been contacted as an eligible applicant and have completed the application process the Ontario Ministry of Finance (MOF) will contact you directly to inform you if your application has been approved.

Once approved, you can contact the Province’s Information Centre for questions about your benefit at:

  • 1-888-544-5101
  • 1 800 263-7776 (TTY)

If you are approved to receive this benefit, you are considered to be affordably housed. Your application for Rent-Geared-to-Income housing will be closed and you will be removed from the Centralized Waiting List.

COHB Applicants on the Central Wait List with Special Priority Program status are now excepted from this requirement and may keep their place on the CWL.

Will my benefit amount ever change?

  • Your benefit amount will be reviewed annually by the Province and may increase or decrease as a result of changes to your income, your household size or if you move to another location.
  • If your income decreases by more than 20 per cent, you may request a review from the MOF midway through a fiscal year, to have your benefit amount reviewed.
  • If you move out of Toronto to another Ontario location, your benefit amount will be calculated according to the average local market rent of the area you will be moving to. It will be modified to reflect the change in rental charges.

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 the COHB benefit amounts are re-assessed yearly during this renewal process.
    • The Annual Renewal form requires households to 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 30. 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 2023 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.

      Find a Community Tax Clinic
      Find a Housing Help Centre

The Province will provide several reminders and opportunities for you to submit your annual renewal in advance of the final September 1st deadline. 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.