Housing Help Services
There are Housing Help Centres in small and big cities and towns across Ontario that offer the full range of Housing Help services. You can also find some Housing Help services in a variety of places including shelters, drop-in programs and other community-based agencies.
Find a place to live: This is called Housing Access and it means everything from helping you leave a bad situation (crisis intervention), to helping you find the right type of place for you. Housing Help services can help you search for market rent housing and help you with subsidized housing applications. Housing Help services may be able to help you find ways to pay for the costs of moving to your new place.
Settle into your new place: This is called Housing Stabilization and it means checking with you to see how you are doing in your new place. For example, helping you get to know your new neighbourhood and everything it has to offer. Before long you will feel like you are part of the community!
Avoid having to leave your place: This is called Eviction Prevention and it means providing you with information about your legal rights as a renter or talking to your landlord. For example, a Housing Help worker can teach you about both you and your Landlord’s responsibilities. If you have any problems, you can find out where to go for help – like a Legal Clinic right in your neighbourhood.
Find financial support: This is called Income Support Assistance and it means helping you with money matters. For example, Housing Help services can help you apply for Ontario Works (OW), Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), Canadian Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS), Rent Bank loans and energy assistance programs. It also means teaching you how to manage your money and how to complete necessary tasks like your annual income tax return.
Get all the help you need: Housing Help services work with Partner Agencies to help you find and keep a place that you can afford and that is right for you. For example:
- Housing providers like municipal social services.
- Settlement Services like newcomer programs.
- Legal services like community legal clinics.
- Health services like community health centres.
- Family support services like youth programs.
- Income supports like Ontario Works (OW) and Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) offices.