Commercial Rent Supplement Program for Subsidized Housing

Individuals looking for Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) housing can indicate interest in the City’s Commercial Rent Supplement program, which provides an RGI subsidy to eligible households mostly in private market rental buildings.

The Commercial Rent Supplement Program:

  • Partners with private market landlords to secure rent supplement units
  • Supports eligible households to access Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) housing and maintain their benefit
  • Ensures timely and accurate subsidy payments to landlords

Eligibility rules for the program are the same as RGI in social or co-operative housing, which are set by the province under the Housing Services Act. Learn more about the Rent-Geared-to-Income subsidy.

Selection of households for the program is done through the Centralized Waiting List. Private market building landlords own and manage the housing units and the City administers the ongoing RGI eligibility.

There are approximately 2,500 housing units in the Commercial Rent Supplement program, secured through agreements with about 200 landlords.

How it Works

  1. Applicants interested in being considered for the rent supplement program must select the ward(s) they are interested in when applying for the Rent-Geared-to-Income Subsidy. This will add them to the waiting list for all rent supplement units within those wards.
  2. Once an applicant reaches the top of the Centralized Waiting List and housing becomes available, Commercial Rent Supplement staff will contact the applicant to make an offer.
  3. Applicants are then provided the address of the RGI unit for viewing and will have the opportunity to choose whether they want to accept or refuse the offer.
  4. If the offer is accepted, the landlord must also approve the applicant.
  5. Once a household moves in, applicants pay their RGI portion of the rent directly to the landlord.
  6. The City pays the RGI subsidy, which is the difference between the actual market rent and the RGI tenant’s rent, to the landlord.

The City calculates the RGI for each household and conducts annual reviews. The City also signs legal agreements with landlords participating in the program, which outline the funding relationship and obligations of the City and landlord.