Social Housing Registry

For households residing in a rent-geared-to-income unit, assistance is provided in the form of a reduction in the amount of rent payable. Tenants eligible for rent-geared-to-income assistance will be charged approximately 30% of their household income, up to the maximum unit rent.

Households that are in receipt of basic financial assistance from Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program will pay a flat rate amount of rent according to a rent scale based on household size.

Affordable housing is not rent-geared-to-income; however, you must be eligible for rent-geared-to-income assistance to qualify for affordable housing units. Rent for affordable housing units is approximately 80% of average market rent as published annually by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).

Affordable housing is available in Brockville, Elgin, Prescott, Kemptville and Oxford Mills.  To apply for affordable housing units, complete the Application for Subsidized Housing and submit it to the Social Housing Registry.

A housing allowance is a rent subsidy paid directly to low-income households that are in need of rental assistance. Visit the Housing Allowance Programs and Benefits page for further details.

Market rent housing refers to units with rent costing at the low-end of private market rents and is provided by some non-profit housing providers. 

Apply directly to the non-profit/co-operative housing corporation for a market rent unit. 

 At least one member of the household must be 16 years of age or older and able to live independently.

1. Each member of the household must be a Canadian citizen or has made an application for status as a permanent resident 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.
2. No member of the household may owe money to any social housing provider in Ontario.  For any amounts owing, the member must pay the amount owed, or make a payment agreement with the provider to pay the outstanding arrears.  Arrears must be paid in full at the time of offer; otherwise, the offer will be considered a refusal.
3. No member of the household has been convicted of misrepresenting their income for the purpose of receiving rent-geared-to-income assistance in the past two years.
4. O. Reg. 370/11 prescribes household income limits to determine eligibility for rent-geared-to-income assistance only (i.e. does not apply to affordable housing). Household income for an Affordable Housing Unit must not exceed the household income limits as established under the Affordable Housing Income Limits Directive of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville.
5. Household assets must be within the limit as per the Asset Limit Policy established by the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville.

To apply for rent-geared-to-income housing or affordable housing in Leeds Grenville, complete the Application for Subsidized Housing  and submit it to the Social Housing Registry.  

Visit the Directory of Social Housing in Leeds Grenville to view units for adults, families, and seniors. 

Visit the Social Housing by Community in Leeds Grenville page for a list of properties by location.

The application is found in the Social Housing Forms section. Paper applications may also be provided upon request from a Community and Social Services office in Leeds and Grenville.

Required Documents

You must provide the following documents with your application:

• Verification of legal status in Canada for all household members (i.e. birth certificate, citizenship certificate);
• The most recent Canada Revenue Agency Notice of Assessment, and other income-related documents (e.g. benefit or pay statements) if your income sources have changed;
• Household asset information, such as bank accounts, investments; and
• Verification of school status for household members earning income that are registered in school.

The application form provides a complete list of required documents.

To request a copy of your Notice of Assessment contact the Canada Revenue Agency at 1-800-959-8281.

Annual Update of Applications

All applicants must update their application at least once annually near the anniversary date of their application. This process is completed by mail. Keep your address and contact information up to date by completing the Verification of Income and Assets Form and submit it to the Social Housing Registry promptly.  

Applicants that do not complete the annual update will be removed from the social housing registry waitlist.

Offer Process

Once you reach the top of the waiting list and a unit becomes available in a building you have selected, the housing provider will contact you by phone with an offer of housing. You will only receive one offer; if you refuse the offer you will be removed from the centralized waiting list for all properties you selected.

Special Needs and Additional Bedrooms

Applicants who require a modified (accessible) unit or require an additional bedroom for medical reasons must submit a Verification of Disability or Medical Condition with their application.  Modified units will be offered to applicant households requiring the modification first. To determine the size of unit you may be eligible for, refer to local Occupancy Standards. 

Buildings with a Senior Age Mandate

Some buildings have an approved age mandate to house seniors. Applicants must have at least one member of the household who is within one year of the minimum age listed on the application to apply, and at the time of offer, at least one member of the household must be the minimum age to move-in.

Applications are prioritized for households that are determined as Special Priority Placement (SPP). A household is eligible to be included in the SPP category if:

• A member of the household has been abused by another individual;
• The abusing individual is, or was, living with the abused member, or sponsoring the abused member as an immigrant; and
• The abused member intends to live permanently apart from the abusing individual; or
• If a member of the household is being or has been trafficked.

Any applicant or member of the household whose personal safety is at risk because of abuse by a person with whom they live in a familial relationship may apply for the special priority household category.  To be considered for Special Priority, you must submit a Request for Special Priority Household Category with your application. 

All other households are housed in order of the date that their application was complete.