Housing Services & Supports

Affordable Rental Housing 

• A unit for which the rent is at or below the average market rent of a unit in the regional market area.

Affordable Ownership Housing

• The purchase price is at least 10 percent below the average purchase price of a resale unit in the regional market area.

Attainable Housing

• A term used interchangeably with affordable, which can stress that even rents set at ‘affordable’ rates (below market) are not ‘attainable’ for all households.

Emergency Shelter Bed Nights

• Measures the number of times a shelter bed is used.

By-Name-List (BNL)

• A real-time list of all people experiencing homelessness. The BNL helps service providers prioritize need, track the status change as individuals and families move in and out of homelessness and inform action as we move towards ending chronic homelessness in our community.

Community Housing

• An umbrella term used to refer to not-for-profit housing, public housing, co-operative social housing (RGI), and affordable. 

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation Bilateral Agreement regarding the National Housing
Strategy defines Community-based housing as housing that is owned and operated by non-profit housing corporations and housing co-operatives or housing owned directly or indirectly by provincial, territorial or municipal governments or district social services administration boards and includes Social Housing.

Coordinated Entry

• A standardized approach to assessing a homeless individual or family’s, needs and the services they may require to achieve housing stability.  Having an effective Coordinated Entry System streamlines access to housing and supports for homeless individual and families.  The County of Wellington has had a CES in place since 2016.

Co-operative Housing Corporations

• Living in a housing co-operative means that you are a member of the corporation that owns and manages the housing community. The governing Board of Directors is established from members of the co-operative. Co-operative members are expected to participate in the operation of their community.

Core Housing Need

Is an indicator of community well-being that takes into account three factors:

• Adequacy - Is the dwelling in need of major repair?
• Suitability – Are there enough bedrooms for the size and make-up of the household?
• Affordability – Do the households spend 30% or more of their before-tax income on accommodation?

Statistics Canada describes core housing need as a household whose dwelling is considered unsuitable, inadequate or unaffordable and whose income levels are such that they could not afford alternative suitable and adequate housing in their community.

Emergency Shelter

Provide crisis, short-term lodging until an emergency situation is resolved.  In Guelph-Wellington we have 3 emergency shelters:

• Dwelling Place (16 beds) providing shelter for women and children,
• Stepping Stones (22 beds) providing shelter to men and
• Wyndham House (14 beds) providing shelter to youth (ages 16-24)

Additionally, in the City of Guelph there is a 28 bed shelter operated by Women in Crisis

Homeless Individuals and Families Information System (HIFIS) 

• A web based software that helps manage the entire spectrum of support services provided to individuals and families experiencing homelessness and supports a coordinated approach to service provision. Data collected through HIFIS contributes to a better understanding of homelessness in our community.

Housing Continuum

• The full range of housing options individuals may need over a lifetime, including temporary emergency shelters, transition housing, supportive housing, subsidized housing, market rental housing or market homeownership.

Housing First 

A recovery-oriented approach to ending homelessness that centers on quickly moving people experiencing homelessness into independent and permanent housing and then providing additional supports and services as needed. (Stephen Gaetz, Fiona Scott, & Tanya Gulliver (2013). Housing First in Canada. Supporting Communities to End Homelessness. Toronto: Canadian Homelessness Research Network Press.)

The five (5) core principles are as follows:

• Immediate access to permanent housing with no housing readiness requirements;
• Consumer choice and self-determination;
• Recovery oriented;
• Individualized and client-driven supports; and
• Social and community integration.

Homelessness 

A broad term that encompasses the following:

• Unsheltered: Living on the streets or in places not intended for human habitation
• Emergency sheltered: Staying in overnight shelters for people who are homeless, as well as shelters for those impacted by family violence
• Provisionally accommodated: Those whose accommodation is temporary or lacks security of tenure
• Risk of homelessness: Referring to people who are not homeless, but whose current economic and/or housing situation is precarious or does not meet public health and safety standards.

Individuals who are experiencing chronic homelessness have been experiencing homelessness for over 6 months.

Homelessness – Inflow/Outflow

• Information gathered through the BNL that helps us understand who is coming into the homelessness system (inflow) and who is being housed and leaving the system (outflow).  Tracking inflow/outflow and actively homeless in our community helps us measure progress towards ending chronic homelessness.

Market Housing

• Refers to private (rental or home ownership) where prices are set in the open market.

Non-Profit Housing Corporations

• Non-profit housing corporations are owned and operated by community-based organizations and are governed by a volunteer Board of Directors.

Permanent Supportive (or Supported) Housing

• Combines rental assistance with individualized support services for people with high needs related to physical or mental health, developmental disabilities or substance use.

Rent Geared to Income (RGI) or social housing 

• A unit for which the tenants pay no more than 30% of their household income in rent and the remainder is subsidized through government contributions.

Subsidized Rental

• Subsidies provided to offset private market rents in private rental units for low-income households. Subsidies are generally provided by the CMSM or Service Provider (e.g. CMHA) for qualifying households in two ways:
  • Rent Supplement - market rent less RGI calculation (may average $500 per unit per month); this involves an agreement with a landlord for a particular unit(s) to be allocated to a household(s) on the centralized waiting list
  • Housing Allowance - fixed housing subsidy (may average $250 per unit per month) which is attached to the household rather than a specific housing unit

Transitional Housing 

• Facilities that are targeted to those in need of structure, support and/or skill building, in order to move from homelessness to housing stability and ultimately prevent a return to homelessness. They provide support services such as counselling, job training and placement, community activities, and help with life skills. Accommodation is temporary (time limited). Residents can typically stay up to a maximum of three years; the maximum stay is specified in the service agreement with the CMSM or Service Provider (e.g. CMHA).

The Wellington Affordable Homeownership Down Payment Loan Fund was established to provide households with an interest-free loan to assist them in purchasing their own home. The programme will assist eligible applicants with a down payment (up to 10% of the purchase price to a maximum of $40,000.) for the purchase of a home within the geographic area of the County of Wellington or the City of Guelph.  The County of Wellington does not allow co-signers for the homeownership programme.

Applicants

• Must have a gross annual income below limits. In Guelph-Wellington this amount is $109,000 (2023/24)
• Will need to be renting with no vested interest in a property
• Must use the purchased home as their sole and principal residence

Homes

• Must be under maximum price limit. In Guelph-Wellington this amount is $830,444.00 (2023/24)
• Can include single detached, semi-detached, townhouse, row or apartment unit (freehold or condominium)
• Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) will consider this loan as equity
• The loan is forgiven if the new home owner maintains the home as their primary residence for 20 years
• The loan is registered on title as a second mortgage with the County of Wellington listed as a loss payee on closing
• Assistance will be granted on a first come basis as funds become available to eligible applicants who submit a complete application

For application, guidelines or any questions please contact:
T 519.824.7822 x 4710 | Email

The County of Wellington's Ontario Renovates Programme offers funding grants of up to $5,000 to low to moderate income homeowners to support increased accessibility for homeowners to help them remain in their homes longer through modifications, adaptations and for urgent repairs.

To qualify for this programme the household income must fall below a provincially established threshold. In Guelph-Wellington this amount is $109,000.00 (2023/24).

Accessibility Modifications

Funding is available for modifications to reduce physical barriers related to housing and reasonably related to the occupant’s disability. Examples include:

• Ramps
• Handrails
• Chair and bath lifts
• Cues for doorbells/fire alarms

Repairs and Rehabilitation

• Heating systems
• Plumbing
• Doors and windows
• Foundations
• Roofs, walls, floors and ceilings
• Septic systems, well water and well drilling

For application, guidelines or any questions please contact:
T 519.824.7822 x 4710 | Email