Information for Applicants

Housing Services is dedicated to assisting low to moderate income households with housing that is affordable and meets their needs.

Applicants Information Guide

Eligibility for Affordable Housing

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be prepared to declare all household income
• Not owe rent or other fees to a former affordable housing provider
• Be able to live independently, with or without support services
• Have one member of the household be 16 years of age or older

All members of the household must:

• Be Canadian citizens, permanent residents of Canada or refugee claimants
• Not be convicted of an offence in relation to rent-geared-to-income assistance in the last two years
• Not be under a removal order under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) to leave Canada

Waiting List for Housing

The length of wait for affordable housing in Niagara may vary depending on the type of housing and location within the region.

We are continuing to advocate for more affordable housing so that we can house applicants more quickly. 

Applying for Housing

By completing one application form, applicants can apply for several affordable housing options:

• Cooperative Housing Communities
  
  Co-operatives are owned and managed by the members who live in the units. They have their own by-laws and restrictions regarding pets, and the rules vary among individual cooperatives. Members are required to volunteer their time to help run their co-op.
  More information »
   
• Non-Profit Housing Communities
  
  Non-profit corporations are privately owned and operated by an elected Board of Directors from the community at large. The corporations' actions are governed by non-profit by-laws and legislation, including the Residential Tenancies Act.
  More information »
   
• Housing Units owned & operated by Niagara Regional Housing
• Rent Supplement Program (Rental Units within the private sector) 
• Housing Allowance Program 
• Affordable Housing Contacts (Separate Application Process)
   
  NRH has also partnered with the community to develop separate affordable housing for moderate income households that do not require Rent-Geared-To-Income subsidy. These communities are funded through the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program and are not owned by NRH, but offer more affordable rent than the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) average market rents in Niagara.
  Contact Info · Project Profiles
   

Once your application is submitted, it will be reviewed and added to the Centralized Waiting List.  You will be contacted when you have reached the top of the waiting list.

Special Priority Status (victims of violence fleeing abuse), Urgent status or Homeless status may be given higher priority. Supporting documentation is always required.

If there is a change in any of the information that has been provided, applicants are required to notify us within 10 business days of the change occurring.