Choice-Based Housing Offer Process

What is the Choice-Based Offer Process?

Offers are made to those on the Centralized Waiting List through choice-based housing cycles. The City posts Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) vacancies every two weeks. If you want to receive a housing offer, you must take part in these choice-based housing cycles.

The Choice-based Housing Offer process lets you see detailed information in MyAccesstoHousingTO about available buildings and units, including photos, move-in dates and accessibility features, and express interest in available units.

The following applicants have been invited to participate in choice-based:

  • Applicants who applied before January 1, 2016.
  • Senior applicants who applied before January 1, 2018.

Receiving an invitation to participate in a choice-based cycle is determined by:

  • Priority access that has been applied to your RGI application.
  • The date you applied for RGI housing, with oldest applications invited first.

Your invitation to participate in the choice-based process will be sent to the email address you provided in your MyAccesstoHousingTO account.

Single-Offer Rule

In 2022, the City implemented a Single-Offer Rule. This means that once you reach the top of the waiting list and are offered a suitable housing unit, you must accept this offer.

  • If you refuse an offer, you will be removed from the Centralized Waiting List. You may apply again, but you will get a new application date and start at the bottom of the waiting list.
  • If your file is cancelled because you refused an offer, you have 30 days to request a review.
  • Only express interest in units you are ready and willing to accept. You only get one offer under the Single-Offer Rule.

Before you start, make sure your contact information is up to date in your MyAccesstoHousingTO account. This helps you avoid missing a housing offer.

Participating in the Choice-Based Housing Cycle

Once you receive an offer to join a choice-based housing cycle, you can:

  1. Log in to MyAccesstoHousingTO.
  2. Select “Current Cycle”.
  3. Look through the list of available units.
  4. Express interest in units that fit your household’s needs.

Watch step-by-step instructions on how to participate in the choice-based housing offer process and express interest in available units.  

What Happens When a Choice-Based Cycle Closes

After a cycle closes, you cannot change your selections. Here’s what to expect:

  • The top-ranked applicant for each unit will get a phone call from the housing provider within two business days.
  • All applicants will receive a cycle summary in their MyAccesstoHousingTO account.
  • If you are not top-ranked for a unit, you can express interest again in the next cycle or wait for a future one.