Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative

The goal of the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative (CHPI) is to prevent and reduce homelessness. CHPI is funded by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing and allows more flexibility to address local needs. The Community and Social Services Division use CHPI funds in the following areas:

Homelessness Prevention

The Homelessness Prevention Benefit helps persons who are homeless to obtain and maintain suitable housing. It can also help people who are at risk of homelessness to stay housed. For homeless persons, the benefit might be the last month's rent deposit or utility hook-up fees. People at risk of losing their accommodations might get help with rent or utility arrears. The Homelessness Prevention Benefit can only be offered once in two years. Therefore the housing must be maintainable for at least two years.

Before you apply for money owed for utilities, you must apply for Winter Warmth and/or Low-Income Energy Assistance Program first. You also need to try to make a payment agreement with the utility company.

A fact sheet and application form are available on our Social Housing Forms page.

Emergency Shelters

Five short-term emergency shelters are available in Brockville and Prescott. For information please call 613-342-3840 or toll free 1-800-267-8146 extension 2129.

Two emergency youth shelters (one in Kemptville and one in Prescott) are managed by Connect Youth.

Rent Bank Program

Please visit our Rent Bank Program page for more information.