Rental Assistance

The Rent Benefit Program is a program providing subsidized rent in privately owned rental properties through an agreement with City of Brantford Housing Services. Some subsidized rents are provided through a rent supplement and some are provided as a portable housing benefit.

How the program works

Clients in this program pay an affordable rent based on their income. Those receiving a rent supplement benefit pay their landlord the rent Housing Services calculates, and we top up that rent to the full market rent for the unit paying the landlord directly. Clients receiving a portable housing benefit also pay an affordable rent but the top-up payment we provide can either go to the landlord directly or to the client. On average, there are more than 300 units in Brant County & Brantford receiving a rent benefit.

Tenant selection

Rent Benefit tenants are selected from the waiting list managed by Housing Services. Tenants who receive a rental benefit sign a standard lease with the landlord of the rental property. The landlord collects rent, maintains the building and provides the same services and repairs that exist with all other tenants in the building.

Landlord application process

Private landlords interested in this program must complete a Rent Supplement Landlord Application Form and submit it to the Housing Department. Click for a copy of the Landlord Application Form. Private landlords will need to provide the following information:

• Type of building
• Number of units
• Age of building
• Unit size
• Monthly rent

City of Brantford Housing selects units for the Rent Supplement Program based on various factors including funding, availability and need. Rental units with very high rents, or units that offer luxury accommodation and amenities, are not selected. Before an application is approved, units are inspected and rents are negotiated. When the application is approved, the landlord enters into a Rent Supplement Agreement with City of Brantford Housing.

The Canada Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB) is a new funding program administered by the Province of Ontario that started on April 1, 2020. It provides housing assistance directly to priority household groups in need.

The COHB is a Portable Housing Benefit (PHB) and is a monthly subsidy (housing allowance) provided to a low-income household to assist with housing costs. Unlike other forms of housing assistance such as rent-geared-to-income (RGI) assistance, this benefit is tied to the household and not to a physical housing unit, allowing the benefit to move with the household to any area in Ontario. As a result, recipients have more flexibility to choose where they live to be closer to family, social support networks, schools and employment opportunities.

For households already receiving COHB, call the Ontario Ministry of Finance if you have questions about your benefit or to provide updated household information at 1-888-544-5101 or 1-800-263-7776 (TTY).

Priority Groups

The COHB program is primarily intended to support vulnerable individuals and households in housing need. The following vulnerable populations under the National Housing Strategy will have priority for COHB support:

• Survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking;
• Persons experiencing or at-risk of homelessness;
• Indigenous persons;
• Seniors; and
• People with disabilities.

How It Works

The Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB) is a provincially mandated Portable Housing Benefit (PHB) available to eligible priority groups who are on the centralized housing waiting list.

The COHB pays the difference between 30 percent of the household’s income and the average market rent in the area. For recipients of social assistance, the COHB will pay the difference between the shelter allowance and the household’s rent and utility costs.

The program is administered by the Province of Ontario and the benefit amount will be reviewed every year.

Households who are approved to receive benefits under this program must consent to be removed from the centralized housing waiting list.

Eligibility

To be eligible to receive COHB funding, households must:

• Be on the centralized housing waiting list or meet the eligibility criteria to be on the centralized housing waiting list (click here to learn more and apply)
• Not be receiving a housing subsidy or any other government-funded housing benefit other than social assistance shelter payments
• Consent to be removed from the centralized social housing wait list if granted COHB funding as required by the COHB program guidelines

How to Apply

Survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking may be eligible for the Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB). People who submit an SPP form with their application for social housing will automatically be considered for the COHB.

SOAR Community Services can also assist eligible people with completing a referral to the COHB program.

You can contact SOAR at 1-888-621-0034 or email housing@soarcs.ca from Monday to Friday between the hours of 8:30am and 4:30pm to discuss the program and request a referral.

Please submit any questions or inquiries about the COHB Program to housingapplications@brantford.ca.