You can apply if you can verify:

• You are at least 16 years old.
• You and all members of the household are legal residents of Canada or refugee claimants.
• You and any member of the household does not owe money to a Housing Services Provider.
• You and any member of the household are not currently under an order of deportation, departure or exclusion to leave Canada.
• You and any member of the household have not been convicted of an offence in relation to rent-geared-to-income assistance by a court of law or the Landlord and Tenant Board.

You can apply for Housing Services through the Apply section of this website.

If you own residential property which is suitable for year-round occupancy, you are required to dispose of your financial interest in the property within 180 days (6 months) of being housed and receiving Rent-Geared-to-Income assistance. This applies to properties that are owned in or outside of Ontario. Special circumstances may apply, please contact the ADSAB office at 1-888-326-3133 or 1-705-842-3370 ext 231 for further details.

You will be required to pursue all income sources which you may qualify for. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Ontario Works/Ontario Disability Support Program
• Support payments
• Employment Insurance
• Any pension or support payments required under a sponsorship agreement
• Any other government funding such as Canada Pension, Workman's Safety Insurance Benefits, OSAP, Compensation for Victims of Crime etc.

NOTE: Failure to pursue a specific type of income within the required time frame will result in a decision of ineligibility.

ADSAB will send you written notification within 7 business days of receipt of your application. This notification will advise you that your application is under review. It will also inform you of any information missing on the application. You will be required to submit the missing information by a certain date in order for your application to be considered complete.

The decision regarding eligibility for rent-geared-to-income assistance will be made no later than 30 calendar days from the date of receipt of your completed application.

You are required to report all changes to your application information within 10 days. Examples of changes could be, but are not limited to:

• Changes to address, phone number or message/contact number
• Changes in your household income
• Changes in family/household size.

ADSAB will also contact you by mail or phone approximately once per year to review your application/file for continued eligibility.

NOTE: Your name will be removed from the Registry (Wait List) if we cannot contact you or if you do not respond to our requests. Please ensure you keep your contact information up to date. You can do so by submitting the Housing Services-Information Update Form.

Your rank on the Registry (Wait List) primarily depends on the date your completed application was received. You will be offered a suitable unit as soon as one becomes available. The length of waiting time varies with each location and unit. Some locations have longer wait lists than others which simply translates to a higher demand for that specific location and unit. Some locations have no or short wait lists. Your patience is appreciated during the waiting period.

NOTE: Special consideration may be given to your application if you or a member of your household are abused by a person whom you live with. Please review the Request for Special Priority Status section.

Yes. You must indicate your choice of Housing Services Project locations on the application form in order for your application to be considered complete.

You are able to choose more than one location. Your name will be added to the Registry (Wait List) for each location to which you are eligible.

If at any time, you wish to update or change your requested locations, please complete a Project Listing-Update Form. This form must be completed and forwarded to ADSAB in order to update your file.

You can indicate what type of unit you want to live in however, the size of unit (number of bedrooms) that you are offered will be determined by the size and composition of your household, according to the ADSAB Local Occupancy Standards.

To summarize, the ADSAB Local Occupancy Standards states the largest unit a household may be eligible for is as follows:

• One bedroom for spouses and same-sex partners
• One bedroom for each additional member of the household, and
• One additional bedroom under the following specific circumstances:

1. a spouse requires a separate bedroom due to a disability or medical condition
2. a bedroom is required to store medical equipment
3. a bedroom is required to accommodate an individual who provides medical care to a member of the household
4. a member of the household is pregnant
5. a member has joint custody of a child who needs overnight accommodations

You can request a review of decisions made regarding your position on the Registry (wait list), your Rent-Geared-to-Income calculation and any decision concerning your eligibility for the program within a certain time frame by following this procedure:

• You must send your request for review in writing within 10 days of the notice of the decision by completing the Request for Internal Review form.
• The Internal Review will be completed within 10 business days after the written request for the review is received.
• The Housing Services Manager will give written notice of the review results within 5 days of the Internal Review decision. The reviewer's decision is final.
  

All offers for Housing Services are done by mail or phone and require your immediate response. Applicants are given 5 days to respond to an offer, so it is very important that you communicate all contact information changes with ADSAB as they occur. If you do not respond to an offer within 5 days, the offer will be treated as a decline.

You have the option to accept or refuse a unit offered to you.

Once you accept the unit of your choice, you will be scheduled for a Rent-Geared-to-Income Appointment at your local ADSAB office. This calculation will determine the amount of rent you will be required to pay. You will also sign a lease for the unit. You will only be given a key to your residence once you have completed the RGI interview and signed the lease.

NOTE: Your third refusal of a rent-geared-to-income unit offer will result in your application  being cancelled. Your name will also be removed from the Wait List. In the event of a future reapplication, you will be placed at the bottom of the Wait List.

Rent-geared-to income is based on 30% of your gross monthly income.

Some of the incomes considered when determining Rent-Geared-to-Income amounts are listed below:

• Employment earnings
• Employment Insurance Benefits
• Worker's Safety Insurance Benefits
• Canada Pension/Quebec Pension
• Private Pensions
• Old Age Security/Guaranteed Income Supplement
• GAINS
• Support Payments
• Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)
• Self Employment Income
• Asset Income from annuities, stocks, shares,  bonds etc.
• any other types of income

If you are in receipt of the Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program, a standard social assistance rent scale will be used.

Additional charges may also apply, depending on the project you are housed in. Further details will be offered to you at the Rent-Geared-to-Income interview. Please refer to the list of Required Documents in order to prepare for the Rent-Geared-to-Income Interview.

Yes. You may qualify for one of the following:

Rent Supplement Program/Direct Shelter Subsidy:

This program offers eligible applicants rent-geared-to-income subsidy while living in privately owned buildings. ADSAB pays a shelter subsidy amount directly to the tenant, who is then responsible to pay the requested rent amount to the landlord.

The availability of government funds for this program is limited therefore, you may be required to wait until funds are available before you are advised of eligibility. It is recommended that you complete a Housing Services Application regardless of funding availability to ensure you are considered for placement on the Registry (Wait List). When funding becomes available, you will be contacted by the ADSAB office.

You are responsible to find suitable accommodations that adhere to ADSAB Local Occupancy Standards. You will also be required to complete and forward a monthly Direct Shelter Subsidy Form which will verify rent has been paid and/or any changes to your  circumstances.

Rent Bank Program:

You may also qualify for the Rent Bank Program if you are currently facing an eviction from your home due to rental arrears. ADSAB can loan you up to the equivalent of two months rent to be applied to your rental arrears. Certain conditions apply to this program, please contact your local ADSAB officefor further details.

Some housing providers have wheelchair accessible units or units which are equipped with certain features (such as no stairs). If you require a special type of unit due to medical reasons, please ensure you indicate this in the appropriate section of the application form. You will be placed on the Registry (Wait List) accordingly for the next available special unit.

If you or a member of your household is currently in an abusive relationship and need to move due to this abuse, you should apply for Special Priority Status.

In order to qualify for Special Priority Status, you must complete a Request for Special Priority  and submit to your nearest ADSAB office.

You are also required to provide written, supporting documentation from a professional to verify your situation. This documentation must state that a member of your household has been:

• subject to abuse from another individual
• the abusing individual resides with the abused member
• the abused member intends to permanently live apart from the abuser.

If you have already separated from the abuser, you must apply for special priority status within three months from the date of separation.

NOTE: Special Priority rent-geared-to-income household member(s) are not required to pursue specified incomes if the pursuit of the income will place the member(s)'s personal safety at risk.

• Pay your rent in full by the first of every month 

• Report all changes in your living arrangements and financial circumstances within 10 days. 

• Give a least 60 days written notice if you are moving out.

• Report any signs of water damage to the Custodian or Technical Services Supervisor (such as water marks on ceilings or walls) promptly.

• Do not damage the property or appliances within your unit. You will be charged for damages made by you, your children or visitors. 

• Follow and respect the individual housing project's rules regarding parking, noise levels, use of common rooms, etc. 

• Provide all information requested during yearly Rent-Geared-to-Income updates and attend all scheduled appointments at your local office.
   

If you are a tenant requesting a transfer to another unit operated by the same Housing Provider, you must complete an Internal Transfer Request and submit it to your Housing Provider.

NOTE: In order to be considered for an internal transfer you must meet the following criteria:

• you must have lived in your present accommodation for twelve consecutive months
   
• you must be up-to-date with your rent for a minimum of six months
   
• you must continue to meet basic eligibility criteria

If you are a tenant requesting a transfer to a unit operated by a different Housing Services Provider, (ie. ADSAB Housing Provider to/from an Non-Profit Housing Provider) you are required to complete a new Application for Housing Services and submit to ADSAB for placement on the Registry (wait list). Please follow the steps listed under the Apply section.

Your request for transfer will be reviewed and ranked in accordance with the date on your new application.

The Rent Bank is an interest free loan based program. It provides a one time interest free loan to assist low-income families who are facing eviction to cover up to two months worth of their rental arrears, to prevent homelessness. You do not need to be a recipient of the Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program to qualify. Your request for assistance will be reviewed individually through an interview.

To apply for the Rent Bank Program complete the Rent Bank Application Form and follow the basic instructions for applying listed on the application.

If you would like further information about this program, please contact your nearest ADSAB office. 

NOTE: A reasonable repayment plan will be negotiated with you at the time of your interview. You will be  given up to 24 months to repay the loan, interest free.