Information for Landlords

The Rent Supplement Programme was designed to reduce the cost of housing for tenants in low income households. There are many benefits to participating.

County of Wellington staff provide ongoing support to ensure a smooth and beneficial tenancy for both parties.

Benefits include:

• Vacancy loss protection – We cover eligible lost revenue resulting from vacancies in rent supplement units (as described in your Rent Supplement Agreement with the County of Wellington)
• Reduced marketing costs – The County of Wellington does the work for you. Our staff will send you referrals for your units, eliminating the cost and time associated with advertising
• Tenant Support – Our work does not end with a successful placement. Rent Supplement staff work with you and your tenants to support a successful tenancy
• Ability to screen tenants - Landlords retain control. Screen possible tenants with credit or background checks, reference checks and interview

As a participating landlord, you will enter into a Rent Supplement Agreement with the County of Wellington.

The agreement contains the following features:

• The obligations of the County of Wellington and the Landlord
• A schedule listing the units covered under the agreement and the approved rent
• A schedule describing acceptable building and unit standards
• A description of the process for selection of tenants
• What happens to tenants upon termination of the contract by either party

A normal landlord-tenant relationship exists under this agreement, and tenants and landlords follow the rules and regulations according to their lease and the Residential Tenancies Act. Any routine questions related to rent payments, repairs and maintenance of the unit, noise etc. should be directed to the landlord.

Tenants also enter into a Rent Supplement Agreement with the County of Wellington. To determine the amount of their subsidy, the County uses a calculation based on income. Any change in household income will result in an adjustment to the subsidy.

Tenants must make their portion of the rent payment to the landlord.

Information for Tenants

Individuals who would like to access the Rent Supplement Programme must make an application to the Centralized Waiting List (CWL). Rent supplement units are filled from the CWL.  Landlords are able to screen prospective tenants by completing background checks that may include credit checks and landlord references.

If an individual or household and the landlord are a good match and they are approved for the unit, the individual/household will be removed from the CWL.

Tenants receiving rent supplement will sign a lease agreement with the landlord directly and are responsible for following rules established under the lease and in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act.  Any questions tenants have about rent payments, upkeep of the residential premises, emergencies after hours, problems with neighbours, moving out, etc., should be directed to the landlord and not to Rent Supplement Programme staff.

Tenants must make their portion of their rent payments directly to the landlord.

Before receiving a rent supplement, tenants will need to sign a Rent Supplement Agreement with the County of Wellington.  This Agreement will set out the responsibilities of the tenant to maintain their eligibility for their rent supplement with the County of Wellington.

If the Rent Supplement Programme seems like a good fit for you, please complete a rent-geared-to-income application and identify Rent Supplement in your housing type selection.

Programme Overview

Under HAP, rent support amounts will be paid to landlords on behalf of each household to bridge the affordable rent that a household pays, based on gross income and the actual market rent. The calculation method is determined by the County of Wellington. Annual income, household and rent verification is required in order to maintain rent support payments.

Rent Support amounts are generally based on the difference between 30% of the household verified gross monthly income and the market rent that is at or below the local average market rent in the programme guidelines. The client’s portion of the rent will be 30% of their verified gross monthly income. If the household is in receipt of social assistance, the client’s portion of the rent will be the most recently established maximum monthly shelter allowance. Under HAP, funding is limited to a maximum of $400 per unit.  

Applications

Applications for HAP will be processed through the County of Wellington, Centralized Waiting List and are subject to available funds. Please note that the waiting list for HAP is currently closed due to programme funding ending in 2023. New applications for the HAP programme are currently on hold while the programme undergoes restructuring. 

Eligibility

To qualify for HAP, applicants must meet the eligibility criteria below:

• Must be a Canadian Citizen Permanent Resident, Sponsored Immigrant or have Refugee Claimant status with no enforceable deportation, departure or exclusion order.
• Must be at least 16 years of age.
• Client’s household income should be at or below the most recent Household Income Limits (HIL) average and is not to exceed the 30% threshold using the average market rent as established through the programme guidelines.
• Client’s unit must meet unit/landlord eligibility. If the unit is not eligible or the landlord refuses the agreement, the client must move to a unit that is eligible in order to receive rent support.
• Must have no social housing arrears.

Participating units must meet the following criteria:

• Unit is located in the geographical service area of Wellington and Guelph, and is owned by the landlord.
• Rent must be at or below the area’s average market rent as determined by the programme guidelines. Ongoing changes in the market rent are allowed within the Province’s annual Rent Increase Guidelines.
• Unit must be self-contained and meet local health, safety, property and maintenance standards.

Programme Objective

Based on the County’s 2014-2024 Housing and Homelessness Plan – Five Year Update, the County of Wellington seeks to achieve the following programme objectives:

• To help low-income households close the gap between their incomes and housing expenses;
• To improve the range of supports to assist people at risk of homelessness to remain housed;
• To offer a comprehensive range of supportive housing options for residents with complex needs due to aging, disabilities, mental health issues and addictions;
• To increase the supply and mix of affordable housing options for low – to moderate income households;
• To reduce the length of time and number of people that experience homelessness; and,
• To promote practices that make the housing and homelessness support system more accessible and welcoming.

Through CAD, the County of Wellington may provide an average rent supplement of $350.00 (funding may vary) per household (individual or family) per month until the client leaves the programme, no longer qualifies for the programme, or until the programme end date.

The client is expected to pay the difference between the unit market rent and the rent supplement paid to the landlord by the community agency. The client is to pay this amount directly to the landlord on time and in the manner agreed upon in the lease. All rent supplement funds will be paid monthly by the community agency. These payments must be made directly to the landlord on behalf of the client.

Applications

Please note that the CAD programme is subject to available funds. To inquire about receiving CAD funding, please contact one of the following participating agencies:

• Stepping Stones
  • Email: info@steppingstonegw.com
  • Telephone: 519-837-0080
• Wyndham House
  • Email: shelter@wyndhamhouse.org
  • Telephone: 519-837-3892
• East Wellington Community Services
  • Telephone (Erin): 519-833-9696
  • Telephone (Rockwood): 519-856-2113
• Community Resource Centre
  • Email: info@communityresourcecentre.org
  • Telephone: 519-843-7000

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for the CAD programme, individuals or families must be receiving or be in need of support services that the community agency is able to provide and sustain throughout the term of the programme. Agencies participating in CAD are responsible for identifying the individuals/families and assessing eligibility.

CAD programme clients are eligible to be on the County of Wellington’s centralized waiting list while enrolled in the programme but will not be offered units while enrolled in the programme. Clients who already receive a rental subsidy either directly or indirectly from the County of Wellington or like agencies are not eligible.

Individuals with arrears owing to a social housing provider within or outside the County of Wellington service area, will be eligible for the CAD programme as long as they meet all of the other eligibility requirements.

To be eligible, units must not exceed CMHC’s Average Market Rent (AMR), be in a satisfactory state of repair, meet local property standards, have no compliance orders/issues to local by-laws, Fire or Building Codes, meet local occupancy standards (in relation to the number of household members and number of bedrooms in the unit) and be located in the geographical service area of Wellington and Guelph.

Programme Objective

Based on the County’s 2014-2024 Housing and Homelessness Plan – Five Year Update, the County of Wellington seeks to achieve the following programme objectives:

• To help low-income households close the gap between their incomes and housing expenses;
• To offer a comprehensive range of supportive housing options for residents with complex needs due to aging, disabilities, mental health issues and addictions;
• To increase the supply and mix of affordable housing options for low – to moderate income households;
• To promote practices that make the housing and homelessness support system more accessible and welcoming.

Through CASU, the County of Wellington may provide an average rent supplement of $350.00 (funding may vary) per household (individual or family) per month until the client leaves the programme, no longer qualifies for the programme, or until the programme end date.

The client is expected to pay the difference between the unit market rent and the rent supplement paid to the landlord by the community agency. The client is to pay this amount directly to the landlord on time and in the manner agreed upon in the lease. All rent supplement funds will be paid monthly by the community agency. These payments must be made directly to the landlord on behalf of the client.

Applications

Please note that the CASU programme is subject to available funds. To inquire about receiving CASU funding, please contact one of the following participating agencies:

• Michael House
  • Email: office@michaelhouse.ca
  • Telephone: 519-766-7675
• Thresholds Homes and Supports
  • Email: info@thresholdssupports.ca
  • Telephone: 519-742-3191

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for the CASU programme, households must be in need of the support services provided by the community agency, and either be on the County of Wellington Centralized Waiting List (CWL) or meet CWL eligibility requirements and have a gross household income that falls below the Household Income Limits (HILs).

CASU programme clients are eligible to be on the County of Wellington’s centralized waiting list while enrolled in the programme but will not be offered units while enrolled in the programme. Clients who already receive a rental subsidy either directly or indirectly from the County of Wellington or like agencies are not eligible.

Individuals with arrears owing to a social housing provider within or outside the County of Wellington service area, will be eligible for the CASU programme as long as they meet all of the other eligibility requirements.

To be eligible, units must not exceed CMHC’s Average Market Rent (AMR), be in a satisfactory state of repair, meet local property standards, have no compliance orders/issues to local by-laws, Fire or Building Codes, meet local occupancy standards (in relation to the number of household members and number of bedrooms in the unit) and be located in the geographical service area of Wellington and Guelph.

Programme Objective

The COHB programme is targeted to low-income renter households to assist with housing costs. The intent is for households to have quicker access to housing assistance than waiting for RGI assistance. The COHB will increase housing choice (e.g. type, quality, location) and will improve household financial well-being. 

Applications

This is a closed application process and the benefit is not available to the general public. Referrals for eligible applicants are made through community partners connected to our Coordinated Entry System. We are not holding a waiting list. 

Eligibility

In order to be eligible for the COHB, applicants must be a resident of Ontario and must be on or be eligible to be on the Centralized Waiting List (CWL) for social housing. Applicants must consent to being removed from the CWL once their application is approved.

Applicants must not be in receipt of RGI assistance or any other government-funded housing benefit, with the exception of social assistance shelter payments.

The COHB programme is intended to support vulnerable individuals and households in housing need. Priority will be given to the following groups:

• Persons experiencing or at-risk of homelessness
• Persons receiving Community Agency Delivery (CAD) funding, under an expiring agreement
• Indigenous persons
• Seniors
• Survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking
• People with disabilities

Programme Overview

The County started its partnership with the Waterloo Wellington Local Health Integration Network (WWLHIN) in 2018 to deliver scattered site supportive housing. The County has partnered with Stonehenge Therapeutic Community to deliver supports to the residents using staff from the Supportive Addictions and Mental Health (SAMH) Team. The program is designed to pair the rent supplement with the supports.

Applications

SAMH accepts referrals on behalf of individuals who are experiencing or at risk of homelessness, or who have a history of homelessness. The SAMH team will complete the initial assessment and intake screening and will select participants who meet the eligibility criteria for the program.

For more information about the SAMH programme, please contact the Housing Stability Unit at:

• Email: housingstability@wellington.ca
• Telephone:  519.824.7822 x3712 

Eligibility

The SAMH programme supports individuals and families who are at risk of homelessness, or with a history of homelessness. The program targets individuals experiencing complex addictions and mental health issues.