How to Apply for Rent-Geared-to-Income Community Housing in Ontario

Where do you apply for RGI housing in Ontario?

You do not submit one province-wide application directly to the Ontario government. Under the Housing Services Act, 2011, applications for rent-geared-to-income assistance are administered by local service managers.

Ontario currently lists 47 service managers across the province. They administer housing programs for municipalities and districts and provide the local application route.

Start by choosing where you want to live, then use Ontario's official service-manager directory to find the organization responsible for that municipality or district. The application must be in a form authorized by the service manager.

Who is eligible for rent-geared-to-income housing?

Eligibility is based on both provincial rules and local rules established by the service manager.

Under Ontario Regulation 367/11, a household must meet these basic provincial requirements:

• at least one household member must be 16 years old or older and able to live independently;
• every household member must be a Canadian citizen, have made an application for permanent resident status, or have made a claim for refugee protection under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act; and
• no household member may have an enforceable removal order under that Act.

For this purpose, living independently includes being able to carry out normal essential day-to-day activities either independently or with support services that the person demonstrates will be available when required.

Is there one income limit for RGI housing in Ontario?

No. There is not one maximum RGI income that applies to every Ontario applicant. Service managers are required to establish local household income limits.

The local income limit must be at least the applicable Household Income Limit prescribed by Ontario. A service manager may set different maximum incomes for different unit types and sizes and for different parts of its service area.

For initial eligibility, household income is generally based on the net income shown on each household member's latest applicable notice of assessment, with adjustments required by the regulation. Income of household members who are in full-time attendance at a recognized educational institution is excluded for this local income-limit test.

Because the applicable maximum depends on the service area and potentially the type and size of unit, check the current limit published or provided by the service manager where you are applying.

Are there asset limits?

Yes. Service managers must establish local asset limits for RGI eligibility. Ontario requires the local asset limit to be at least $50,000, but a service manager can set a higher limit and can establish different limits for different household sizes or types.

Provincial rules exclude specified assets from the calculation, including registered retirement plans such as RRSPs and RRIFs. Service managers can also exclude additional assets under their local rules.

Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program households are exempt from local asset-limit rules when all household members are part of a social assistance benefit unit. Local rules must also allow a service manager to make an exception in extenuating circumstances.

What documents will you need?

The exact application package depends on the service manager. The Housing Services Act requires an application to contain prescribed information and documents as well as information and documents the service manager is permitted to require.

Expect the local process to require information needed to establish household composition, status in Canada, income, assets and other eligibility factors. Follow the document checklist issued by your service manager rather than assuming that another municipality's checklist applies.

Because local income rules generally use net income from the latest applicable Canada Revenue Agency notice of assessment, keep the relevant tax information available. If you discover that a previously filed return needs correction, that is a separate process; see how to change a Canadian tax return after filing.

Can previous housing arrears affect your application?

Yes. A household can be ineligible if a member owes specified amounts connected with a previous tenancy in a housing project under a transferred housing program, including rent arrears, certain reimbursements or money for damage caused by a current household member.

However, the regulation provides exceptions. The restriction does not apply where the service manager is satisfied that extenuating circumstances exist, or where a household member has entered into, or made reasonable efforts to enter into, a repayment agreement and the service manager is satisfied that reasonable efforts are being or will be made to repay the amount.

If you owe money from previous subsidized housing, disclose it accurately and ask the service manager what evidence is needed regarding repayment arrangements or extenuating circumstances.

How do you find the correct service manager?

Ontario maintains an official directory of its 47 service managers. Search the directory by the municipality or district where you want assistance and use the listed local contact information.

The service area matters because the service manager sets local eligibility rules, administers the application system and determines eligibility for RGI assistance in its area. If you want housing in another Ontario area, ask the relevant service manager how applications for that area must be submitted.

What happens after you are found eligible?

Being eligible does not mean a unit is immediately available. Service managers administer systems for selecting households for RGI assistance, and the time until an offer depends on local housing availability, your household's requirements, the housing projects you select or prefer, and any applicable priority status.

Ontario does not publish one guaranteed waiting time for RGI housing across the province. Ask your service manager about the local waiting-list system and how to keep your application active.

Can abuse or human trafficking give a household priority?

Ontario has a provincial Special Priority Policy within its RGI system for qualifying households affected by abuse or human trafficking.

For abuse other than trafficking, the regulation generally requires that a household member has been abused by an individual who is or was living with that member, or who is sponsoring that member as an immigrant, and that the abused member intends to live permanently apart from the abusing individual. Separate provincial rules apply to trafficking.

A request for inclusion in the special priority household category must be in writing and must be made by a household member who is at least 16. The regulations specify supporting-record and consent requirements and also limit what a service manager may demand where obtaining documents could put a household member at risk.

If these circumstances apply, tell the service manager when applying so it can provide the correct Special Priority request process. Do not assume that simply describing an urgent housing need automatically creates special-priority status.

What happens if you refuse an RGI housing offer?

Refusing an offer can have serious consequences. Under Ontario Regulation 367/11, a household ceases to be eligible for RGI assistance if it refuses an offer made by the service manager where the unit meets the service manager's occupancy standards and is in a housing project for which the household expressed a preference.

A refusal of an offer of a portable housing benefit is not treated as a refusal under that particular rule.

Review your housing selections and preferences carefully while waiting. If your circumstances or acceptable locations change, contact your service manager rather than waiting until an unsuitable preference produces an offer.

Do you need to report changes while waiting?

Yes. Eligibility does not end once you join a waiting list. Ontario's rules allow and require continued eligibility reviews, and households must comply with applicable reporting requirements.

Changes to information previously provided for determining eligibility, continued eligibility or geared-to-income rent can affect your file. Follow the reporting deadline and method given by your service manager and respond to eligibility-review requests.

Service managers also periodically review their local income and asset limits, so a limit that applied when you first researched the program should not be assumed to remain unchanged indefinitely.

How much rent will you pay if you receive RGI housing?

RGI means the rent is determined under Ontario's geared-to-income rent rules rather than simply being one fixed discounted amount for every household. The Housing Services Act requires the service manager to determine the rent payable by a household receiving RGI assistance, and Ontario Regulation 316/19 sets out the calculation rules.

The calculation depends on the household's circumstances, including whether household members form benefit units or family units, adjusted family net income and applicable amounts for services, utilities or heating. Because the exact amount is household-specific, the application stage should not be treated as a guarantee of a particular monthly rent.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Looking for one Ontario-wide application: applications are administered by the service manager for the area where you want assistance.
• Using another municipality's income limit: service managers establish local income and asset rules.
• Leaving out household members: citizenship or immigration criteria and financial information can apply across the household.
• Ignoring subsidized-housing arrears: specified amounts owed can affect eligibility, although repayment and extenuating-circumstance provisions may apply.
• Selecting housing you would not accept: refusing a qualifying offer for a project you selected can cause loss of RGI eligibility.
• Not requesting Special Priority status when applicable: survivors of qualifying abuse or trafficking have a specific provincial priority process.
• Failing to report changes: keep your service manager informed and comply with its eligibility-review requirements.

Related housing procedures

RGI assistance is different from ordinary landlord-tenant remedies. If you already rent in Ontario and have a maintenance problem, see how to file a T6 maintenance application. If your landlord has substantially interfered with your rights, illegally entered the unit or harassed you, the separate T2 tenant-rights application may be relevant.