Toronto Tenant Grants Administration

Eligibility Requirements

The Housing Secretariat sought organizations with the following mandatory eligibility requirements:

1. The organization is:
   1. located within the boundaries of the city of Toronto, or
   2. an urban off-reserve Indigenous-led organization located in the city of Toronto who may also provide culturally-based programming outside the boundaries of the city.
2. The services funded through the Call for Applications take place within the boundaries of the city, with the exception of services being delivered by urban off-reserve Indigenous-led organizations, that yield direct benefits for the urban Indigenous communities of Toronto.
3. The organization provided information which demonstrates that it does not, in the absence of the grant, have the financial resources necessary to undertake the activity for which the grant is requested.
4. The organization has legal not-for-profit or charitable status or is an urban off-reserve Indigenous-led organization.
5. The organization is not indebted to the City or in default of the terms and conditions of any agreement (including any previous grant agreement) with any division, agency, board of commission of the City of Toronto under the discretion of the Division Head.
6. The organization has and will maintain, at its own expense, policies of insurance, which policies will be in a form with an insurer acceptable to the City. A certificate evidencing these policies signed by the insurer or an authorized agent of the insurer has been submitted to the City.
7. The organization has secured and will maintain and pay all costs for Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (“WSIB”) workers’ compensation coverage for its employees performing work on the Project pursuant this Agreement, where statutory required under the Workplace Safety and Insurance Act, 1997 (“WSIA”).

 

Rent Bank and Emergency Energy Fund Program Administration

The purpose of this funding category was to invite eligible organizations with the demonstrated experience to submit an application to administer the City of Toronto’s Rent Bank Grant Program (RBGP) and the Emergency Energy Fund (EEF). The successful applicant will be conducting intakes directly with applicants, reviewing for program eligibility and administering payments, in partnership with the City-funded Local Access Centres. In addition, the organization will be overseeing the central administration of the following initiatives:

1. Rent Bank Grant Program
   The RBGP provides grants that are paid to landlords on behalf of low income tenants in Toronto who are at imminent risk of losing their homes due to rental arrears or require help with a rental deposit to ensure low income residents are able to secure housing and avoid homelessness.
2. Emergency Energy Fund
   The EEF provides grants that are paid to energy providers on behalf of low income tenants in Toronto who are facing energy related emergencies to avoid disconnection or to have their energy services reconnected to stabilize their housing.

Service Delivery Requirements

The scope of work for this funding category included the following:

1. A Central Intake and Application Process: Establishing a central intake and application process for residents to submit an application and to assess for program eligibility, as per the City’s program guidelines.
2. Central Administration and Coordination Services: Leading and overseeing the administration of the Rent Bank Grant Program and the Emergency Energy Fund, in partnership with the City-Funded Local Access Centres (LACs).
3. Responsive Services: Providing responsive services that will improve access and supports for Toronto residents, including vulnerable populations and equity-deserving groups.
4. A Cloud Based Technology Solution: Providing technology-oriented solutions to submit and receive online applications, to review and assess for program eligibility and to track payment issuances to payees.
5. Payment Administration: Preparing and issuing payments of all RBGP and EEF approved applications, in accordance with the City’s program guidelines.
6. Communication and Outreach Strategies: Promoting and providing information services regarding the RBGP and the EEF using a variety of communication strategies to program clients, partners, Toronto residents and City staff.
7. Program Oversight: Leading and coordinating the Steering Committee and the Operational Committee, in partnership with the City, to oversee the administration and the delivery of the RBGP and the EEF.
8. Staff Training: Onboarding and training staff, including the Local Access Centres’ staff, on program eligibility, program requirements and business processes.
9. Grant Fund Management and Reporting: Performing all relevant accounting functions related to the management of the grant funds and completing reporting requirements to the Housing Secretariat.

 

Bridging Grant and Eviction Prevention in the Community (EPIC) Fund Payment Administration

Eligible organizations with demonstrated experience were invited to submit an application to provide payment preparation, payment distribution and administration services. While the successful applicant will be responsible for administering payments to approved payees, the eligibility and intake process will be completed directly by City staff and the organization will be responsible to provide timely and efficient payment processing for the following initiatives:

1. Bridging Grant
   The Bridging Grant (BG) supports persons experiencing homelessness residing in an emergency shelter or persons living outside to secure permanent housing. The BG provides grants, paid to the landlords on behalf of the applicant, to cover first month’s rent and/or the rent deposit (last month’s rent) when moving to new rental housing.
2. Enhanced Bridging Grant Benefit
   The Enhanced Bridging Grant Benefit (EBGB) is a grant paid directly to an approved client staying in an encampment upon moving into housing to support the successful attainment of housing and items related to the transition to indoor living.
3. EPIC Fund
   The EPIC Fund provides grants, paid to landlords and/or third party housing stability service providers on behalf of low income tenants of the EPIC Program.

Service Delivery Requirements

The scope of work for this funding category included the following:

1. Payment Administration: Preparing and issuing grant payments, in accordance with instructions and directions from City of Toronto staff.
2. A Cloud Based Technology Solution: Providing technology-oriented solutions to submit and receive grant payment requests from City staff and to track payment issuances to payees.
3. Responsive Services: Providing responsive services to improve payment processing timelines and responding to inquiries and concerns in a timely manner.
4. Grant Fund Management and Reporting: Performing all relevant accounting functions related to the management of the grant funds and completing reporting requirements to the Housing Secretariat.