The following groups of applicants are prioritized for Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) housing. These groups, ranked in order of priority, are listed below.
The Special Priority Program (SPP) is for households with current or recent experience of domestic abuse or human trafficking. Under provincial housing legislation (the Housing Services Act), the SPP gives households priority access to Rent-Geared-to-Income housing or other housing benefits.
Please be aware that securing housing or housing benefits can take some time. If you are looking for a referral to a Violence Against Women shelter or other supports related to your situation, call:
Professionals who can assist with completing the application and Verification Letter:
Provide Proof of Joint Residency with the Abuser showing that you and the alleged named abuser lived together. Documents must be dated within the last three months. Applicants must provide at least:
Staff may be required to request additional information to determine eligibility.
All documents from professionals should be original, signed copies on letterhead. (Households applying as survivors of human trafficking are not required to demonstrate co-habitation.)
Households already living in subsidized units that need to move to a smaller unit due to changes in their household (according to local occupancy standards) are add the Centralized Waiting List by their housing provider.
The City provides a higher ranking on the Centralized Wait List to eligible clients who are terminally ill and have less than two years to live.
To qualify under this category, you must be in the care of a physician that has provided a diagnosis for the terminal illness and will confirm that your life expectancy is less than two years
The City will review the application and determine eligibility for the program. All applicants will be notified in writing. For those accepted into the program, their date on the waiting list will be reflective of the date all required documents were received to determine eligibility for the program.
Tenants currently living in an RGI unit with on-site supports who no longer require these on-site supports to maintain their housing may apply for priority access to move to a new RGI unit without on-site supports.
Below is a list of housing providers who have buildings that are eligible under the Households Exiting Supportive Housing priority. If your housing provider is on the list below, contact your housing provider to confirm that you live in an eligible building address before you complete the priority application.
Speak to your housing provider and the Households Exiting Supportive Housing Priority Form.
Those currently experiencing homelessness and not staying in a City of Toronto shelter are eligible to apply.
Youth who are 16 or 17 years old, independent of an adult household member, and heads of household at the time of applying for Rent-Geared-to-Income housing are eligible to apply for priority access.
Eligible youth can apply for priority access through the MyAccesstoHousingTO (MATHTO) application.
The Indigenous priority status for Rent Geared-to-Income (RGI) housing in Toronto is reserved for applicants who identify as Indigenous to Canada (First Nations, Inuit or Metis). To be eligible for this priority, a minimum of 50% of household members must identify as Indigenous. Thunder Woman Healing Lodge Society will conduct the eligibility verification for this priority on behalf of the City of Toronto.
The City co-developed the implementation for this priority with Indigenous organizations. The criteria used for this priority was developed by the Toronto Aboriginal Support Services Council (TASSC), that works with 18 Indigenous-led non-profits in Toronto.
Acceptable proof of identification of First Nation, Inuit and Metis People include:
A government-issued certificate of Indian Status (Status Card) or a letter from the individual’s First Nations Community, on their letterhead, including their band registration/treaty number signed by the Band Administrator.
A letter from the Band/First Nation on their letterhead, including their band registration/treaty number and signed by the Band Administrator
A letter from a government organization such as Inuvialuit Regional Corporation or Nunatsiavut in Labrador, the latter of which also issues a card. There are also various Inuit beneficiary cards issued through organizations such as Nunavut Trust; these can also serve as proof of Inuit Status. Letters should be on letterhead, include a registration number and be signed by a recognized Inuit government official.
A card issued by a one of the following member provinces of the Métis National Council of Canada:
Learn more about how to apply or to request a review of a decision.