Housing subsidy

These subsidies are attached to units owned by community housing providers and Peel Region. There are 2 types of Community Housing Subsidies: Housing Services Act subsidies and Peel Region subsidies.

Community Housing - Housing Services Act subsidies

Formerly referred to as rent geared to income subsidies (RGIs), this subsidy is attached to units in Community Housing Provider buildings and mandated by the Ontario government under the Housing Services Act. The subsidy is administered through the Centralized Waiting List and the amount is determined based on a rent-geared-to-income calculation, or the rent benefit amount set by the Ontario government if you receive social assistance or the Ontario Disability Support Program.

You may be eligible if:

• You can live independently with or without support services.
• You are over 16 years old.
• You are a Canadian citizen, a Permanent Resident of Canada, or a refugee claimant, or you are applying to become a Permanent Resident.
• You are not under a removal order to leave Canada.
• You do not owe money to any social housing provider in Ontario, and if you do, you have an agreement to repay this money.
• You have income and assets that are within Peel Region’s allowable limits

The household income limits for 2023 are:

• Bachelor unit - $49,500
• 1-bedroom - $58,500
• 2-bedroom - $67,000
• 3-bedroom - $74,500
• 4-bedroom or larger - $79,500

The asset limits for 2023 are:

• Single person - $50,000
• Family - $75,000

Community Housing – Peel Region

This subsidy type is funded through Peel Region and attached to units in Peel Region owned buildings. This type of subsidy is not mandated by the Ontario government, so the subsidies are administered through our needs-based approach. There are short, mid and long-term subsidies.

Requirements:

• You must live in Peel
• You must be a Canadian citizen, landed immigrant, or have applied for permanent residency or refugee protection in Canada, with no removal orders.

The household income limits for 2023 are:

• Bachelor unit - $49,500
• 1-bedroom - $58,500
• 2-bedroom - $67,000
• 3-bedroom - $74,500
• 4-bedroom or larger - $79,500

Peel Region has the discretion to consider households with income up to 10% above the allowable limit for their household.

Assets:

• You agree to sell any home or land that you own, or share ownership of, within 6 months of accepting an offer.
• You do not have cash, investments, or property worth more than $50,000 (or $75,000 if applying with someone).

Money owing to Community Housing Provider

You may be required to arrange a repayment agreement and show that repayments are being made as part of the case plan.

Subsidy calculations

Subsidy amount is based on your income. If you are receiving assistance from Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program, the maximum allowances will be used when calculating the subsidy amount.

Individualized case plan

You must participate in the development and execution of individualized case plans. These plans aim to improve your housing situation and to help you to become self-sufficient.

These subsidies relate to units owned by private landlords. There are 2 types of Private Housing Subsidies. Housing Services Act subsidies and Peel Region subsidies.

Private – Housing Services Act

This subsidy type is mandated by the Ontario government under the Housing Services Act. It is administered through the Centralized Waiting List, and the amount is determined based on a rent-geared-to-income calculation, or the rent benefit amount set by the Ontario government if you receive social assistance or Ontario Disability Support Program.

You may be eligible if:

• You can live independently with or without support services.
• You are over 16 years old.
• You are a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident of Canada or a refugee claimant, or you are applying to become a permanent resident.
• You are not under a removal order to leave Canada.
• You do not owe money to any social housing provider in Ontario, and if you do, you have an agreement to repay this money.
• You have income and assets that are within Peel’s allowable limits.

The household income limits for 2023 are:

• Bachelor unit - $49,500
• 1-bedroom - $58,500
• 2-bedroom - $67,000
• 3-bedroom - $74,500
• 4-bedroom or larger - $79,500

The asset limits for 2023 are:

• Single person - $50,000
• Family - $75,000

Private – Peel Region

This type of subsidy is funded by Peel Region and administered through the Region’s needs-based approach. There are short, mid and long-term subsidies.

Requirements:

• You must live in Peel
• You must be a Canadian citizen, landed immigrant, or have applied for permanent residency or refugee protection in Canada, with no removal orders.

The household income limits for 2023 are:

• Bachelor unit - $49,500
• 1-bedroom - $58,500
• 2-bedroom - $67,000
• 3-bedroom - $74,500
• 4-bedroom or larger - $79,500

Peel Region has discretion to consider households with income up to 10% above the allowable limit.

Assets:

• You agree to sell any home or land that you own, or share ownership of, within 6 months of accepting an offer.
• You do not have cash, investments, or property worth more than $50,000 (or $75,000 if applying with someone).

Money owing to Community Housing Provider

You may be required to arrange a repayment agreement and show that repayments are being made as part of the case plan.

Subsidy calculations

Subsidy amount is based on your income. If you are receiving assistance from Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program, the maximum allowances will be used when calculating the subsidy amount.

Individualized case plan

You must participate in the development and execution of individualized case plans which aim to improve your desired housing outcomes and self-sufficiency for each household receiving a subsidy.

This subsidy type is attached to the individual, not the unit. This means that the subsidy moves with the individual if they choose to re-locate in Peel region, and still meet all other eligibility requirements. Most of these subsidies are with private landlords. The subsidy is administered through the needs-based approach. There are short, mid and long-term subsidies.

Requirements:

• You must live in Peel
• You must be a Canadian citizen, landed immigrant, or have applied for permanent residency or refugee protection in Canada, with no removal orders.

The household income limits for 2023 are:

• Bachelor unit - $49,500
• 1-bedroom - $58,500
• 2-bedroom - $67,000
• 3-bedroom - $74,500
• 4-bedroom or larger - $79,500

Peel Region has discretion to consider households with income up to 10% above the allowable limit.

Assets:

• You agree to sell any home or land that you own, or share ownership of, within 6 months of accepting an offer.
• You do not have cash, investments, or property worth more than $50,000 (or $75,000 if applying with someone).

Money owing to Community Housing Provider

You may be required to arrange a repayment agreement and show that repayments are being made as part of the case plan.

Subsidy calculations

Subsidy amount is based on your income. If you are receiving assistance from Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program, the maximum allowances will be used when calculating the subsidy amount.

Individualized case plan

You must participate in the development and execution of individualized case plans which aim to improve your desired housing outcomes and self-sufficiency for each household receiving a subsidy.

You will need to complete the housing services screening tool before you will be considered for a housing subsidy or any other assistance with affordable housing.

Access a full list of housing supports.

What to know when applying for subsidy

Centralized Waiting List

The Centralized Waiting List is our list of applicants who are waiting for access to housing in Peel for which tenants will pay rent of no more than 30% of their total household income. The way the list is managed is determined by the Housing Services Act. The housing subsidies available for people on the Centralized Waiting List are the Housing Services Act subsidies

Subsidies are administered based on application date. The Housing Services Act gives priority access, based on application date, to applicants who are experiencing, or at risk, of family violence, or human trafficking. Peel Region also gives local priority access to applicants for medical reasons (less than 2 years to live).

Currently, you may have to wait a long time for a subsidy through the Centralized Waiting List.

Needs based

The needs-based approach to delivering housing services involves defining the level of need through a prioritization process. Clients who qualify for subsidies through this approach must actively participate in building their individual case plan, which aims to improve their housing situation and helps them become self-sufficient.

The types of subsidies available through the needs-based approach are:

• Community Housing – Peel Region
• Private – Peel Region
• Portable Subsidies.

Applicants on the Centralized Waiting List may be offered a needs-based subsidy.

While you are waiting, you can apply for housing assistance in other regions outside of Peel without losing your spot. You can also look for affordable housing on your own. We will still contact you when a housing subsidy is available.

If you are only on the Centralized Waiting List and would like to be considered for any other housing subsidy, complete the housing screening if you have not already done so.

Note to agencies

We only accept online applications through the housing screening. We no longer accept paper copies, mailed or in person.

Staff will contact you to obtain any required supplemental documents as needed.

Appeal housing subsidy decision

If you disagree with a decision that has been made about your housing subsidy application or your subsidized rent, you may be able to request an appeal.

Learn how to request an appeal.