Applicant Information Guide
Housing Services assists low to moderate income households with housing that is affordable and meets their needs. Housing Services Housing Access Centre administers the Centralized Waiting list.
The length of wait for Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) housing in Niagara may vary depending on the type of housing and location within the region.
RGI is rent calculated at 30% of the household’s monthly income.
Housing Services continues to look for opportunities for affordable housing in Niagara so applicants can be housed more quickly.
WHO CAN APPLY FOR RENT-GEARED-TO-INCOME (RGI) HOUSING?
You can apply if:
- You are at least 16 years old
- Everyone in the household is a Canadian citizen, Permanent Resident (or has applied), or is a Refugee or Refugee Claimant. Proof of legal status in Canada includes copy of Canadian Birth Certificate, Permanent Resident Card and/or Refugee documents.
- No member of the household owes money to any social housing program
- No member of the household is under an enforceable removal order to leave Canada
- No member of the household has been convicted of misrepresenting their income for the purpose of receiving RGI assistance
- You agree to sell any home or real estate that can be lived in or used all year. The sale must take place within six nmonths of being housed and the money received from the sale will be included in calculating your rent.
- You are able to live alone with or without support services (which you must arrange). You are considered to be able to live on your own if you can perform the normal activities of dayto-day living or can do so with the aid of support services and can show that those support services will be provided if needed.
CAN I APPLY IF I DO NOT HAVE AN INCOME?
Yes. However, once you are housed in an RGI unit, you will need to pursue income from one or more of the following sources:
- Ontario Works (OW)› Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)
- Support Payments, Child Support, Employment Insurance or Support Payments required under a sponsorship agreement
- Old Age Security
If you do not pursue a specific type of income within the set time frame, you may lose your RGI assistance.
CAN I STILL APPLY IF I OWN MY OWN HOME?
Yes. If you own a home that can be used all year, you are required to sell it within six months of being housed.
HOW MANY BEDROOMS CAN I HAVE?
When you are picking the locations where you want to live, mark the size(s) of units you are applying for. Remember:
- There can be no less than one person per bedroom
- You may choose to have two people share a bedroom
- Couples are given one bedroom
- If there is a documented medical need, an extra bedroom may be provided
CAN I CHOOSE WHERE I WANT TO LIVE?
Yes. You can choose one or many locations. Your application will be added to the waiting list for each location you choose. If you choose locations that you are not eligible for, you will not be added to those waiting lists.
Please make sure that the locations you pick have the unit sizes that you qualify for. The more locations you choose, the faster you are likely to be housed. If you wish to change, add or remove your housing selections, contact us at 905-682-9201.
HOW MANY OFFERS OF HOUSING WILL I GET?
You are allowed ONE housing offer. If you refuse the offer, your name will be taken off the waiting list. Once your name is off the waiting list, you will have to reapply and start over, which means you will go to the bottom of the list. This is why you should only choose locations that you are sure about.
CAN I HAVE A WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE OR MODIFIED UNIT?
Yes, but only if you qualify. Some housing providers have units that have been modified to accommodate wheelchairs or other equipment because of a physical disability.
To qualify for one of these units you must supply information from your doctor that you require a modified unit. You must be able to live on your own in this unit, or with supports provided by community agencies. It will be up to you to arrange these supports.
HOW MUCH RENT WILL I PAY?
Rent-geared-to-income (RGI) is based on 30% of your household’s monthly income including income earned from assets.
If you are receiving assistance from Ontario Works (OW) or the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), rent is based on a social assistance rent scale. Other adjustments may apply that could increase or decrease the rent you pay, such as utilities or parking. This will depend on the location you move into.
In co-operative housing, rent is referred to as a "housing charge".
AT WHAT AGE CAN I APPLY FOR SENIORS HOUSING?
You must be at least 55 years old for seniors housing. At least one member listed on your application must have reached the age of 55 to be placed on senior community waiting lists.
WHAT TYPES OF HOUSING CAN I APPLY FOR?
- Co-operative Housing
Co-operative housing is run by the people that live there who are referred to as members. Members of co-ops are expected to participate in the operation of their co-op. You can do this by serving on the Board of Directors, be part of a committee or be involved in the maintenance of the property. Coops are a mix of market rent and rentgeared-to-income (RGI) units. Some co-ops have pet restrictions. - Non-Profit Housing
Non-profit housing corporations are managed by a Board of Directors which can be made up of municipal councillors, interested community members and/or tenants. The communities are a mix of market rent and RGI units. Some non-profit communities have tenant associations that help the Board of Directors manage the residence. - Housing Services
Housing Services provides public housing in Niagara and is the administrator of affordable housing for Niagara Region. Some communities have space for tenant functions and tenant associations or social groups that help give a positive sense of community and an improved quality of life. - Rent Supplement and Housing Allowance Programs
In this program, Housing Services enters into agreements with private rental landlords for units to be rented to tenants with lower incomes. Tenants pay a portion of their rent (according to the program they are funded by) and the remainder is paid to the landlord by Housing Services to help pay the difference up to the agreed market rent for the unit.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN HOUSING ACCESS RECEIVES MY APPLICATION?
We will write to you within seven business days after your application has been received to let you know if it is complete or not.
If your application is not complete, the letter will tell you the reason and the additional information that is needed. You will have 30 days to provide the missing information or your application will be cancelled.
If your application is complete, the letter will tell you that your application is on the Centralized Waiting List and will list the communities you chose. If you chose communities that you are not eligiblefor, you will not be placed on those waiting lists.
When a vacancy occurs, the first person at the top of the waiting list will be contacted. If the first person on the list refuses, or cannot be contacted, the next applicant on the list will be offered the unit.
Once you are on the waiting list:
To update any information about your housing application, please call 905-682-9201 or report changes online www.nrh.ca.
HOW WILL I BE CHOSEN FOR HOUSING?
The system for selecting households is based primarily on date of application which means first come, first served. There are some exceptions, which are:
Special Priority Status
You may be given Special Priority Status if you are living with someone who threatens your safety or the safety of other household members. Please see section 8 of the application form for more information on this. Special Priority applicants are ranked highest on the Centralized Waiting List.
If you are applying for Special Priority Status, you must:
- complete the Special Provincial Priority Status request form
- have a community professional listed on the form verify your circumstances, and
- provide proof that you live or lived with the person that threatened your safety
Urgent Status
You may be given Urgent Status if you have physical limitations and your health is significantly compromised because of stairs where you live or if your situation causes extreme risk or hardship. Please see section 9 of the application form for more information on this.
If you are applying for Urgent Status, you must:
- complete the Urgent Status request form
- have a doctor/medical professional/support agency write a letter to verify your circumstances
Homeless Status
You may be given Homeless Status if you are homeless. To apply for Homeless status, you must meet at least one of the criteria on the Homeless Status request form. Please see section 10 of the application form for more information on this.
Housing providers offer every tenth vacancy in their communities to applicants listed as Homeless Status on their waiting list.
If you are applying for Homeless Status, you must:
- complete the Homeless Status request form
- have a community professional listed on the form verify your circumstances
HOW WILL I BE CONTACTED FOR AN OFFER?
Since units are rented promptly, we require a daytime telephone number so you can be contacted when a unit becomes available.
If you cannot be reached during the day, please give us the telephone number of a contact person who can be reached during the day so they can pass on a message to you.
You will receive ONE offer of housing. If you refuse the offer, your application will be cancelled and you will have to reapply.
HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO WAIT?
The length of time before a unit becomes available varies greatly depending on the locations you choose. Some waiting lists are longer than others and it is hard to guess when you will be at the top of the list. Some communities have more vacancies than others. The more locations you choose, the more you increase your chances of being housed sooner. Please note that all rent-geared-to-income (RGI) units are occupied. In order for a unit tobecome available, you must wait for a current household to move out.
Although it is impossible for us to know when you will be offered housing, you can find the Average Wait Time for each city posted on our website at www.nrh.ca or in the front lobby of the Housing Services office.
HOW MANY OFFERS AM I ALLOWED?
You are allowed ONE offer of housing. If you refuse the offer, your application will be cancelled. If you want to go back on the waiting list, you will have to reapply and start over, which means you will go to the bottom of the list.
HOW DO I KEEP MY APPLICATION UP-TO-DATE?
It is very important that you keep the information on your file up-to-date. If you change your address or phone number you must let us know within 30 days because we may try to call you or write to you. You must respond to any phone calls, letters or forms we may send you.
If we cannot get in touch with you, you may lose your chance for a unit. Your application may be cancelled and you may have to reapply, which means you return to the bottom of the list.
Every two years you will receive an Eligibility Review form. This form helps make sure that you are still eligible for housing. You must fill out this form and return it to us within 30 days or your application may be cancelled and you will need to reapply.
If you want to add or delete locations where you want to live, you must contact our office. This is important because if you were offered a unit in a location where you do not want to live this would be treated as a refusal.
Remember that you will only receive ONE offer of housing.
If the number of people in your household changes, you must notify our office. This is important because the number of people in your household determines the number of bedrooms you will get. Waiting lists are sorted by bedroom size at each location, so you want to make sure you are on the right waiting list.
CAN I GET A MARKET RENT UNIT?
Many housing providers in Niagara have both rent-geared-to-income (RGI) andmarket rent units in their communities. The reason for this mix is so that the housing communities reflect the type of mixed incomes that you would find anywhere in the community.
Market rent is the rent or housing charge that housing providers charge tenants who are not getting help with their rent. The rent is set in comparison to similar rental housing in the area.
To apply for a market rent unit, you may complete the application for housing and once your income is reviewed, it will be determined at that time if you would qualify for a market unit. You will then be placed on the waiting list(s) of the communities you selected for a market rent unit only.
You may also contact other housing providers directly to inquire about their market units. The provider contact information for market units is listed below.
Housing providers in Niagara that have market rent units
| Community Name | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| ST. CATHARINES – FAMILY COMMUNITIES | ||
| Agnes MacPhail Women’s Co-op | 2 Ferndale Street | 905-988-3633 |
| Arbour Village Co-op | 25 Barnaby & 88 Vintage | 905-788-0166 |
| Commonwealth Co-op | 15 Richardson Court | 905-788-0166 |
| Cornerstone Co-op | Scattered | 905-788-0166 |
| Elim Place | 705 Welland Avenue | 905-684-6333 |
| Faith Lutheran Villa | 31 Agar Drive | 905-688-6600 |
| Greenvale Co-op | 61 Francis Creek Boulevard | 905-684-7773 |
| Julius Court | 725 Welland Avenue | 905-688-6600 |
| Meadowgreen Co-op | 14 Wilholme Drive | 905-788-0166 |
| Moonstone Co-op | 82B Roehampton Avenue | 905-646-4406 |
| People’s Choice Co-op | 68 Louth Street | 905-988-1137 |
| Pinecroft Co-op | 85 Westland Street | 905-688-1766 |
| Regatta Place Co-op | 2 Lighthouse Road | 905-934-9504 |
| Ridley Terrace | 448 Louth Street | 905-684-6333 |
| Silkrow Charitable Foundation | 130 St. Augustine Drive | 416-487-5122 |
| Village Glen Co-op | 5 Welstead Drive | 905-788-0166 |
| Watermark Co-op | 35 Christopher Street | 905-788-0166 |
| ST. CATHARINES – SENIOR COMMUNITIES | ||
| Christian Seniors Tabitha Homes | 99A Scott Street | 905-687-6933 |
| Kiwanis Park | 321 Geneva Street | 905-684-6333 |
| La Residence Des Aines | 321 Carlton Street | 905-646-0181 |
| Meadowgreen Manor | 21 St. Helena Street | 905-684-6333 |
| Niagara Ina Grafton Gage | 413 Linwell Road | 905-935-6080 |
| Paderewski | 4 Greenmeadow Court | 905-934-5050 |
| Ukrainian Non Profit | 16 Dixie Street | 905-646-7281 |
| NIAGARA FALLS – FAMILY COMMUNITIES | ||
| 4901 Buckley Avenue | 4901 Buckley Avenue | 905-684-6333 |
| 6147 Prospect Street | 6147 Prospect Street | 905-688-6600 |
| 6995 Ailanthus Avenue | 6995 Ailanthus Avenue | 905-684-6333 |
| 8055 McLeod Road | 8055 McLeod Road | 905-688-6600 |
| Brookside Village Co-op | 8175 McLeod Road | 905-788-0166 |
| Fallsview Terrace | 6945 Ailanthus Avenue | 905-374-7170 |
| Liuna | 6420 Delta Drive | 905-524-2985 |
| Lutheran Homes | 3940 Dorchester Road | 905-788-0166 |
| Shriner’s Creek Co-op | 7887 Thorold Stone Road | 905-358-4522 |
| Skyline Co-op | 7645 Preakness Street | 905-354-9544 |
| Westwood Place Co-op | 6550 – 6600 Kalar Road | 905-374-0533 |
| NIAGARA FALLS – SENIOR COMMUNITIES | ||
| 5440 Drummond | 5440 Drummond | 905-688-6600 |
| 8065 McLeod | 8065 McLeod Road | 905-688-6600 |
| Fairhaven / St. Andrew’s | 3568 Montrose Road | 905-354-4607 |
| La Residence Joie De Vivre | 5800 Dixon Street | 905-358-9874 |
| Lutheran Homes | 6848 Isaac Street | 905-788-0166 |
| THOROLD – FAMILY COMMUNITIES | ||
| Bolton/Crompton | Bolton/Crompton | 905-227-6628 |
| Romy Crescent | Romy Crescent | 905-227-6628 |
| THOROLD – SENIOR COMMUNITIES | ||
| 61 Ormond Street | 61 Ormond Street | 905-227-6628 |
| WEST LINCOLN – FAMILY COMMUNITIES | ||
| Dove Co-op | 172 Smits Cove | 905-788-0166 |
| WEST LINCOLN – SENIOR COMMUNITIES | ||
| Legion Villa | 171 Mill Street | 905-957-2274 |
| LINCOLN – FAMILY COMMUNITIES | ||
| Vineyard Co-op | 4399 Concord Ave. | 905-788-0166 |
| WELLAND – FAMILY COMMUNITIES | ||
| Briar Rose Co-op | 575 Southworth Street | 905-788-9130 |
| Canal View Homes | 60 King Street | 905-732-0400 |
| Cooperative d’habitation Beauparlant | 52 Promenade Richelieu | 905-735-8376 |
| Mel Swart Co-op | 231 Denistoun Street | 905-734-8055 |
| Northtown Co-op | 366 Thorold Road | 905-735-1926 |
| St. Charles Co-op | 250 Prince Charles Drive | 905-788-0166 |
| Woodrose Co-op | 855 Ontario Road | 905-734-1944 |
| PORT COLBORNE – FAMILY COMMUNITIES | ||
| Port Colborne Co-op | 10 Saturn Road | 905-788-0166 |
| South Niagara Gateway Family Homes | 340 Wellington Street | 905-788-0166 |
| FORT ERIE – FAMILY COMMUNITIES | ||
| Bordertowne Co-op | 757 Nancy Street | 905-788-0166 |
| Lakeview | 828 Concession Road | 905-871-9313 |
| The Bridges | 43 King Street | 905-871-9313 |
| Crystal Beach Co-op | Esme Lane/Weber Court | 905-894-5059 |
| FORT ERIE – SENIOR COMMUNITIES | ||
| Lions Douglas Heights | 255 High Street | 905-871-8151 |
| PELHAM – SENIOR COMMUNITIES | ||
| Pelham Non Profit | 45 Pelham Town Square | 905-892-1743 |