Housing Allowance Programs and Benefits

About Housing Allowances

A housing allowance provides assistance directly to low-income renters to help make rents more affordable. Because the allowance is paid directly to the individual, renters may continue to receive it when they move.

Housing allowances are different than Rent-Geared-to-Income assistance. This assistance is provided as a monthly rent subsidy that is renewed annually (or upon a significant change in household circumstances).

There are various housing allowance programs offered in Leeds and Grenville, depending upon funding available. Households may apply for all available housing allowance programs, but will only be approved to receive funding from one program.

Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI) Housing Allowance

The Ontario Priorities Housing Initiative (OPHI) is part of a joint provincial and national strategy to address local housing priorities, including affordability. The OPHI Housing Allowance provides financial assistance to low-income renter households to make rents more affordable.

To apply for the OPHI Housing Allowance, please complete the OPHI Housing Allowance Application.

Assistance Provided

The OPHI Housing Allowance is a monthly flat rate payment from the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville that is made directly into the bank account of the renter to assist with their rent costs.
The OPHI Housing Allowance is calculated as the difference between:
- the current Alternate Average Market Rent (AAMR) for the eligible unit size or
- the current AAMR for the actual unit size or
- the actual rent amount (whichever is the least of the three), and
- the maximum shelter allowance for social assistance recipients or 30 per cent of Adjusted Family Net Income for non-social assistance recipients.
The OPHI Housing Allowance will not change the amount you receive for your Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support payments.

Household Eligibility

Applicants must be renting within Leeds and Grenville.
At least one member of the household must be 16 years old or older and able to live independently.
Each member of the household must meet the following citizenship criteria:
- Is a Canadian citizen, or
- Has made application for permanent resident status under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada), or
- Has made a claim for refugee protection under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada), and
- No removal order has become enforceable against any member of the household under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada).
No member of the household may owe arrears to any social housing provider in Ontario; arrears must be verified paid in full.
No member of the household has been convicted of misrepresenting their income for the purposes of receiving rent-geared-to-income assistance within the last two years.
Household income must not exceed the household income limits as established under the Housing Services Act, 2011, O. Reg. 370/11 Section 2.
Household assets must be within the limit as per the Asset Limits Policy (HDPOL34) established by the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville.
Households receiving rent-geared-to-income assistance, another housing allowance or portable housing benefit are not eligible to receive the OPHI Housing Allowance benefit.

Unit Eligibility

The unit may be self-contained (i.e. have its own kitchen and bathroom) or can be a room in shared accommodations.
A unit in a hotel/motel, congregate living arrangement, nursing home or retirement home is not eligible.

Continued Eligibility for OPHI Housing Allowance

Your housing allowance is based on the address used in your OPHI Housing Allowance application. If you move to another unit you must notify the Counties in writing within 30 days.
If you are offered and accept a rent-geared-to-income (RGI) unit you must notify the Counties immediately. Your housing allowance continue to be paid until the last day of the month before you move into your (RGI) unit.
Only the persons included in the OPHI Housing Allowance application may occupy the unit. You must notify the Counties in writing within 30 days of any change in your household members.
Your eligibility to receive the OPHI Housing Allowance will be reviewed annually. You must provide either a Statement of Social Assistance (if in receipt of Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program benefits) or the most recent Notice of Assessment (NOA) if not in receipt of social assistance, to verify your household income.
Your OPHI Housing Allowance may be cancelled for any of the following reasons:
- No longer eligible for the program.
- Accept of an offer of a rent-geared-to-income unit.
- Moving to a unit that does not meet unit eligibility criteria.
- Failure to notify the Counties within 30 days of a change in address or household members.
- Failure to complete the annual review or any other review initiated by the Counties.
- Providing false information or otherwise misrepresent any required information in the OPHI Housing Allowance Application, or any document requested by the Counties to determine eligibility for the OPHI Housing Allowance Program, whether negligent or otherwise.
- Funding for the OPHI Housing Allowance program is terminated or withdrawn.

Priority Groups

Applications are prioritized for:

Households who are experiencing affordability issues with their rental unit.
Ontario Works recipients who experience affordability issues with their rental unit.
Applicants that are waiting for a rent-geared-to-income unit.

How to Apply

Applications are available on our Social Housing Forms page or in a Community and Social Services office upon request.

Mail or drop-off your completed OPHI Housing Allowance application and supporting documents to:

The Corporation of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville
Community and Social Services Division – Housing Department
Attention: OPHI Housing Allowance Case Manager
25 Central Avenue West, Suite 200
Brockville, ON K6V 4N6