What is COHB funding? What is CAD funding? (2022 explanation provided by Brianne Cox-Housing Stability)
CAD – Community Agency Delivery – this a rent subsidy that is available through CRC, EWCS, Wyndham House and Stepping Stone. This funding is only available until 2023/2024 depending on the stream available. We typically connect with CAD individuals when COHB becomes available to ensure households that require longer term support have the option to apply for COHB. The amount of a CAD subsidy is typically lower than the amount that can be issued through COHB just based on the amount available and calculation that considers housing expenses and income.
COHB (Canada Ontario Housing Benefit) – this a benefit that we receive from both the federal and provincial governments on an annual basis, we never know how much we will receive from year to year and typically find out only a few months before we start to complete applications. Over the past two years we have prioritized COHB for households who are homeless, at-risk of homelessness, experience domestic violence, experience human trafficking. As you know we have asked service providers to refer household to COHB and then we review each situation to see if COHB is an appropriate fit/aligns with our current priorities. As I mentioned above we do prioritize those on CAD as we know the funding is coming to an end unless new funding is announce. If a household is eligible for COHB initially and annually my understanding is that the subsidy will go until 2029, we always encourage households to apply for the CWL so they have potential options when/if COHB ends in 2029. If someone is on the CWL and then applies for COHB they will remain eligible on the CWL but their start date on the application will be reset to the date they start receiving COHB. COHB has been fully exhausted for this year at this point and we wouldn’t expect to receive additional funds until April 2023 but we haven’t received any confirmation about this. COHB moves with the household and can be applied anywhere in Ontario, there could be a slight change in the benefit amount as each municipality/region has their own average market rent amounts which impact the benefit calculation.
Wellington County:
Hydro Assistance
1-855-487-5327
https://www.oeb.ca/rates-and-your-bill/help-low-income-consumers/ontario-electricity-support-program
We offer programs to help lower-income customers with their electricity bills. One of them is the Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP). It provides monthly on-bill credits for lower-income customers to reduce their electricity bills.
Utility Assistance
519-837-2670 ext. 3712
If you’re behind on your electricity or natural gas bill and face having your service disconnected, you may qualify for emergency financial help through the Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP). There are also special customer service rules available for low-income households. You need to meet certain criteria to qualify for these programs and must go through one of the intake agencies in Ontario listed below.
Community Resource Centre of North, Centre Wellington
Utility Assistance is provided from time to time to families in the area
1-866-840-3249
www.communityresourcecentre.org
Rent Bank
519-837-5492 ext. 4130
Rent Bank Program provides funding for rent arrears for individuals in danger of losing their accommodation. It ensures housing stability for those with short-term arrears who are facing eviction.
The fund can assist market rent tenants only. Provisions can be made for up to two months' rent and it will be paid directly to the landlord.
**TENANTS CAN APPLY FOR ASSISTANCE ONCE EVERY TWO YEARS
The County of Wellington Rent Bank is an eviction prevention program. The program can assist qualified applicants with a maximum of two month’s rental arrears.
The Rent Bank is only able to pay towards rental arrears and can not assist with First & Last month’s rents, or with current/future rents. Also, the rent bank is not able to assist towards arrears owed to a unit that receives any form of housing subsidy.
To qualify for Rent Bank assistance you must be below the Household Income Limit cut offs, you must be able to prove that you can sustain future rents (income must be higher than rent), and you must not have used the rent bank in the last 24 months.
An applicant must be able to provide all the necessary documents (these include I.D., banking info, proof of income and the eviction notice), and the next month’s rent must be paid in full before we would be able to assist with arrears.
If the landlord is unable or unwilling to stop the eviction, the Rent Bank can not provide assistance.
Geared to Income Housing Application
Application form below:
https://www.wellington.ca/en/social-services/hs-apply-for-housing.aspx
Community Living
Jeanette Anderson
226-314-0834
We are a not for profit service agency that provides support and assistance to people who have an intellectual disability and reside in Wellington County. We support people who have an intellectual disability as they live, learn, work, and experience all aspects of living in their community
Housing Help Centre
Kevin Priestley
519-824-7822 OR 1-800-663-0750
Housing Help Centre maintains a housing registry to assist individuals in securing affordable housing that exists in the private rental market. The Centre is operated and funded by the County of Wellington.
Help for Home Owners
https://www.wellington.ca/en/social-services/hs-homeownership-funding.aspx#
The County of Wellington administers two homeownership programs to help address housing affordability for households across the service area:
Wellington Affordable Homeownership Down Payment Loan Fund, and
Ontario Renovates.
The Affordable Homeownership Program and Ontario Renovates are limited funding programs, please review program eligibility below.
For any questions please contact Rubina Mian, Program Support Worker
T 519.824.7822 x4710
Canadian Home Builders Association (CHBA)
NIMBY toolkit follow link to more information on Not In My Backyard has worked in other provinces to provide affordable housing for everyone and what we can do to help change in Ontario.
https://www.chbanl.ca/building-yes-not-backyard-nimby-toolkit/
Housing Benefit a welcome solution to those in need ; Addressing housing affordability needs. A link to some information on affordable housing in Canada.