Housing Stabilization Fund

Policy Intent

The Housing Stabilization Fund (HSF) is intended to prevent homelessness by meeting the emergency housing needs of Toronto residents who receive financial assistance from Ontario Works (OW) and income support from Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) so that they are able to stabilize their housing situation.

HSF has been extended to include migrants residing in Toronto under an emergency authorization for humanitarian reasons who are in receipt of Emergency Assistance (EA).

Toronto Employment and Social Services (TESS) is committed to administering this fund in a timely, transparent and consistent manner that is responsive to client circumstances.

Please note that reimbursements cannot be issued for items already paid for prior to the request for HSF.

Background

HSF was developed and has been administered by TESS since January 01, 2013 to meet provincial program objectives in addressing homelessness.

Currently, the province has several programs and strategies to prevent homelessness, and help people experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) is a provincially funded program that supports municipalities in providing affordable housing and support services for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. The objective of the program is preventing, addressing, and reducing homelessness.

Utilizing funding from HPP, HSF meets provincial objectives by assisting people experiencing homelessness obtain and retain housing, as well as assisting households at risk of homelessness remain housed.

Target Group

Residents of the City of Toronto who are in receipt of financial assistance through Ontario Works (OW) or income support through Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) can request the fund. For OW, this includes individuals receiving Temporary Care Assistance. Clients in receipt of Emergency Assistance or Interim Assistance are not eligible for the fund, unless they are in Canada under an emergency authorization for humanitarian reasons. This fund is not available to residents of Toronto who are not in receipt of social assistance.

General Principles

  • To meet the emergency housing needs of social assistance residents so that homeless clients are able to obtain housing or those who are currently housed are able to retain housing or relocate due to a high rent situation.
  • To ensure the policy and procedures for issuing the benefit to clients are transparent, consistent, streamlined and simple.
  • To refer clients to both internal and external social supports that will assist them in stabilizing their housing.
  • The fund provides a valuable support for those who need to establish or retain their housing but it is acknowledged that it may not address all of the complex needs of clients. Clients are encouraged to speak to their caseworker about any other housing related issues they may need support with.

Terms

Establishing a Residence:

  • Moving from the street, a shelter or a furnished to unfurnished accommodation within the City of Toronto;
  • New residents to the City of Toronto establishing a residence; or
  • Clients relocating due to fire, flood or domestic violence within the City of Toronto.

Soft Furniture: Household items that are upholstered with fabric such as a sofa bed and sofa.

Homeless: Not having stable, secure, and permanent housing/residence. This includes those who access shelters, couch surf, lack of funds to secure and/or maintain housing, live on the streets, sleep in houses/structures which are unsafe and/or without utilities

Total Accommodation Costs: Includes the actual shelter cost plus any additional expenses such as hydro, fuel.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Must be a resident of the City of Toronto and in receipt of financial assistance from Ontario Works, income support from the Ontario Disability Support Program or migrants who are in receipt of Emergency Assistance and in Canada under an emergency authorization for humanitarian reasons.
  • Total accommodation costs must be sustainable and within 85% of total monthly income.
  • All required verification must be provided by clients in order to assess eligibility for the fund.
  • Reimbursements will not be issued for items paid for prior to the request.
  • Assessments for rental or energy arrears require an ongoing pay direct.
  • Clients must not have accessed the maximum amount of funding available in the current calendar year. Exception: Funds for soft furniture, encasements or beds related to a bed bug occurrence can only be issued once in a 24 month period.

Housing Circumstances

To secure housing and prevent homelessness, clients may be eligible for the HSF if they are:

  • Homeless and leaving an emergency shelter or the street.
  • Housed and relocating within the Province of Ontario because of domestic violence, fire/flood or to accommodate a change in family size.
  • Housed and relocating within the Province of Ontario due to a high rent situation or eviction.

To meet the emergency housing needs, HSF may be issued to help with:

(a) Last Month’s Rent within the Province of Ontario

  • Funds to secure an address will be issued if accommodation costs are within 85% of total monthly income.
  • Funds must be payable to the landlord/property owner.
  • Funds are not issued:
    • To applicants listed as an occupant only
    • To applicants who are sub-letting
    • For co-op membership fees also known as co-op deposits
    • For application fees or deposits when applying for accommodation
    • For parking.

(b) Establishing a Residence

HSF funds can be issued for last month’s rent, as well as to purchase household items to establish a residence within the City of Toronto for:

  • clients moving from the street, a shelter or a furnished to unfurnished accommodation
  • new residents to the city who are establishing an accommodation
  • clients relocating due to fire, flood or domestic violence.

Eligibility is limited to the flat rate amounts noted below:

Family Size Establishing a Residence Flat Rate Amounts
Singles/Couples $800.00
Families with Dependent Adults $1,000.00
Families with Children $1,500.00

Please note: Any combination of issuances cannot exceed the annual maximum based on family size.

(c) Rental Arrears

  • Funds for rental arrears will be issued if the applicant is responsible for paying the rent and if their accommodation costs are within 85% of total monthly income.
  • Funds are not issued:
    • To clients listed as an occupant only
    • To clients who are sub-letting
    • For parking arrears or costs to cover damages
  • An ongoing pay direct must be established.
  • Funds issued must be payable to the landlord/property owner.

(d) Energy Arrears (gas, hydro and fuel)

  • Funds for energy arrears will be issued if the energy account is in the name of the client and their total accommodation costs are within 85% of total monthly income.
  • An ongoing pay direct must be established.
  • Funds issued must be payable to the energy provider.

(e) Moving Costs within the Province of Ontario

  • Funds for moving will be issued if the client is housed and moving within the Province of Ontario due to a high rent situation, eviction or to accommodate a change in family size.

Eligibility is limited to the flat rate amounts noted below:

Family Size Moving Flat Rate Amounts
Singles/Couples $350.00
Families (with children and/or dependent adults) $425.00

(f) Bed & Encasement Issuances are:

  • To purchase a bed & encasement for a child that has outgrown a crib
  • To purchase a bed & encasement when a child joins the family

(g) Beds & Soft Furniture when there is verification of bed bug treatment

  • For clients residing in a Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) unit, written verification outlining the address, unit # and date of treatment is required from their “Environmental Health Unit”.
  • For clients residing at any other addresses (non-TCHC), written verification outlining the address, unit #, date of treatment and the name of the pest control company is required from either the landlord or the pest control company.
  • The request must be made within 60 days from the date of treatment.
  • Funds can be issued to purchase encasements and for the replacement of discarded beds and/or soft furniture once in a 24 month period when there is documented treatment for bed bugs.
  • Soft furniture is not issued for any other purpose

Eligibility is limited to the amounts noted below:

Family Size Encasements
Flat rate		 Beds
Flat rate		 Soft Furniture
Flat rate
Singles/Couples Twin: $45.00 or
Double/Queen: $60.00		 Twin: $300 or
Double/Queen: $500		 $250.00
Families with Children Twin $45.00 or
Double/Queen: $60.00		 Twin: $300 or
Double/Queen: $500		 $300.00
Families with Dependent Adults Twin: $45.00 or
Double/Queen: $60.00		 Twin $300 or
Double/Queen: $500		 $300.00

 

Please note: Any combination of issuances cannot exceed the annual maximum based on family size.

Maximum Entitlement and Types of Items Included

The maximum annual HSF entitlement based on family size is:

  • Singles/Couples – $1,600
  • Families with Dependent Adults – $2,000
  • Families with Children – $3,000
  • Temporary Care – $560 per child (in temp care)

Note:

  • To support housing affordability, monthly accommodation costs must be within 85% of total monthly income
  • Funds for bed bugs can only be issued once in a 24 month period

Acceptable Documentation

  • Last month’s rent within the Province of Ontario – Lease/Property Management/Owner letter or Promise of Address (POA) verifying requested amount.
  • Fire/Flood – supporting letter from property management, police report or insurance letter/report.
  • Establishing a Residence- self-declaration.
  • Rental Arrears- letter from the landlord, late notice/N4, notice of rental arrears or eviction notice (if received).
  • Energy Arrears- Energy bill or disconnection notice (must be in the name of the client).
  • Moving Costs within the Province of Ontario – Verbal declaration
  • Documented verification of treatment for bed bugs- For clients residing in TCHC, written verification outlining address, unit #, and date of treatment from their “Environmental Health Unit”.
  • For clients at all other addresses (non-TCHC), written verification outlining address, unit #, date of treatment and the name of the pest control company from either the landlord or the pest control company.

Referral Process

OW clients and Emergency Assistance recipients who are in Canada under Emergency Authorization for humanitarian reasons should contact their OW caseworker for an HSF assessment. ODSP clients should contact their ODSP caseworker for a referral.

Read a summary of the Housing Stabilization Fund and how to apply