Housing Services Policies, Reports & Data

The County of Wellington is the Consolidated Municipal Service Manager for Wellington County and the City of Guelph. We are responsible for the delivery and administration of provincially mandated social and affordable housing programmes, as well as initiatives to prevent and address homelessness.

We are accountable to the provincial government, in addition to County Council, to ensure the funding and delivery of these services are carried out in accordance with contractual agreements the County holds with various Ministries. The Ministries holds us accountable through ongoing monitoring of service plans, reporting of financial and service data, compliance reviews (policies and client files), as well as financial audits.

Key Messages

Housing Services Key Messages summarizes the work we have or will take in support our 10-year Housing and Homelessness Plan objectives.

10-Year Homelessness & Housing Plan: 2025-2035

We're updating our 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan, building on the original plan and the "A Place to Call Home" Five Year Update. The updated plan will guide our work from 2025 to 2035 and include a five-year review.

We will take a system-wide approach to ensure housing and homelessness services are coordinated, effective, and aligned with local needs, through strong partnerships with service providers, governments, and the community.

Over the coming months, we will review:

Existing programs and services, including gaps and challenges
Best practices from other communities
Opportunities to better align resources and strengthen collaboration

We want to hear from you! Community leaders, service providers, and partners are invited to share feedback to help shape housing priorities and strategies for the next 10 year! Join our information session.

Annual Reports

Annual Reports highlight the measurement and progress that has been made on the objectives of the 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan.

2023 HHP Annual Report: A Place to Call Home

Past Annual Reports

Reaching Home Community Homelessness Reports

Reaching Home: Canada’s Homelessness Strategy provides federal funding to support individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness. As the designated Reaching Home Community Entity for the Wellington service area, the County of Wellington, implements the community plan and is responsible for the selection, approval, and management of projects in the local area. Community Entities are supported by a Community Advisory Board responsible for developing the community plan and recommending projects for funding at the community level.

Guelph-Wellington 2023-2024 - Community Homelessness Report Summary

Past Community Homelessness Report Summaries

Point-in-Time (PiT) Counts

The County of Wellington, in partnership with community agencies, has conducted a number of Point in Time (PiT) Counts across the service area (Wellington and Guelph) in accordance to the Housing Services Act, 2011 as part of the Reaching Home programme. PiT Counts are a measure of the number of individuals and families experiencing homelessness on a specific day. The County has conducted PiT Counts since 2014, previous reports are available upon request.

2024 PiT Count - Housing - Wellington County

A PiT count is one of several tools communities can use to understand the scope and extent of homelessness locally.

Housing Services Status & Activity Report

Housing Services Status and Activity Reports are submitted to County of Wellington Social Services Committee on a biannual basis, providing an overview and updated summary of key Housing Services activities and operations.

2023 Q3&Q4 (July 1, 2023 to December 31, 2023) Status & Activity Report

Past Housing Services Status & Activity Reports

Housing Services Policies

The County of Wellington, in accordance with the Housing Services Act, 2011 has developed rules related to the delivery of subsidized housing in Guelph-Wellington.

Policies

Absence from a Unit Policy (updated June 2013)
Account Payments Policy (updated March 2023)
Conflict of Interest Policy (updated September 2013)
Duty to Accommodate Policy (updated October 2019)
Extraordinary Funding Policy (updated October 2014)
Failure to Provide Information Policy (updated June 2013)
Housing Provider Property Management Policy (updated September 2013)
Housing Provider Standards Policy (updated June 2013)
Insurance Policy (updated August 2018)
Internal Transfer Policy (updated July 2022)
Local Priority Policy (updated July 2023)
Maximum Household Assets Policy (updated June 2013)
Household Income Limits Policy (updated July 2022)
Mobility Device Policy (updated October 2019)
Notification of Changes Policy (updated June 2013)
Occupancy Standards Policy (updated February 2022)
Over Housed Policy (updated February 2022)
Parking Policy - 232 Delhi Street (updated September 2022)
Parking Policy - 33 Marlborough Road (updated September 2022)
Pest Management Policy (updated August 2012)
Pursuit of Income Policy (updated June 2013)
Refusal of Offers Policy (updated June 2020)
Refusals by Housing Providers Policy (updated October 2019)
Review of Decisions Policy (updated August 2022)
Review of Service Manager Decisions Policy (approved June 2022)
RGI Convictions Policy (updated June 2013)
Smoke-Free Policy (updated July 2023)
Tenant Charges Policy (updated October 2020)

Housing Provider Directives & Information Bulletins

All Provincially and locally established policies are communicated to housing providers through the Guides, Directives, and Information Bulletins. If you would like to see all the current directives, please refer to the Directives and Information Bulletins List

Governance Directives & Information Bulletins

Directive Number	Directive and Information Bulletin	Status
2015-02	Training and Succession Plans	Current
2013-19	Remuneration of Directors	Current
2013-18	Property Management Contracts	Current
2013-17	Number of Board Meetings	Current
2013-09	Conflict of Interest	Current

Finance Directives & Information Bulletins

Directive Number	Directive and Information Bulletin	Status
2025-05	2026 Benchmark Indices	Current
2025-04	2026 Rent Increase Guideline	Current
2024-09	2025 Benchmark Indices	Current
2024-08	2025 Rent Increase & Rent Control Guideline	Current
2024-05	Accounting Principles	Current
2023-05	2024 Benchmark Indices	Current
2023-04	2024 Rent Increase Guideline	Current
2022-06	2023 Benchmark Indices	Current
2022-05	2023 Rent Increases Guidelines	Current
2022-03	Year End Reporting Requirements	Current
2014-10	Extraordinary Operating Request	Current
2012-09	Non-Rental and Non-Shelter Income	Current
2012-08	Retention of YE Surplus	Current
2009-04	Treatment of Financial Investments	Current
2007-10	Benchmark Change Request Process	Current
2005-06	Accountants Report on Applying Specified Auditing Procedures	Current

Resident Administration Directives & Information Bulletins

Directive Number	Directive and Information Bulletin	Status
2026-02	In-situ Geared-to-Income Applications	Current
2026-01	2026 Maximum Household Income Limits	Current
2025-03	2025-03 Minimum Rent	Current
2025-02	Maximum Household Assets	Current
2025-01	2025 Maximum Household Income Limits	Current
2024-07	Social Housing Arrears and Arrears Report	Current
2024-06	Addition to Household	Current
2024-03	2024 Minimum Rent	Current
2024-02	Occupancy Standards	Current
2023-02	Move In Eligibility Notice	Current
2022-07	Review of Decisions System	Current
2022-02	Notice of Changes	Current
2021-10	RGI and treatment of COVID benefits	Current
2021-06	Pursuit of Income	Current
2021-04	RGI Guide	Current
2021-03	Failure to Provide Information	Current
2020-05	Ceasing to Meet Occupancy Standards	Current
2020-07	Minimum Rent	Current
2020-03	Centralized Waiting List	Current
2020-02	Refusal of Offer	Current
2020-01	Refusal by Housing Provider	Current
2019-03	Maximum Household Income	Current
2015-06	Arrears Policy Change	Current
2014-04	Local Priority	Current
2013-08	Absence from Unit	Current

Asset Management Directives & Information Bulletins

Directive Number	Directive and Information Bulletin	Status
2016-01	Capital Guide 2016	Current
2014-09	Extraordinary Capital Request	Current
2013-16	Multi-Year Financial Plans	Current

Archive Directives

The following Directives and Information Bulletins have been archived or replaced. For more information, please contact a Housing Programme Advisor.

Directive Number	Directive and Information Bulletin	Status
Governance
2012-01	Implementation of the New Housing Services Act, 2011 and Regulations	Archived
2009-01	Regulatory Changes, Social Housing Reform Act, 2000	Archived
2007-16	Information Bulletin - Amendments to O. Reg. 298/01 and 339/01	Archived
Finance
2021-09	2022 Benchmark Indices	Archived
2021-08	2022 Rent Increases Guidelines	Archived
2020-11	2021 Provincial Rent Freeze	Archived
2020-10	2021 MNP Inflation Factors	Archived
2020-09	2021 Rent Increase Guideline	Archived
2020-08	2021 Benchmark Indices	Archived
2019-06	2020 Benchmark Indices	Archived
2019-05	2020 MNP Inflation Factors	Archived
2019-04	2020 Rent Increase Guidelines	Archived
2018-03	2019 Benchmark Operating Cost and Revenues	Archived
2018-02	2019 MNP Inflation Factors	Archived
2018-01	2019 Annual Rent Increase Guideline	Archived
2017-04	2018 Benchmark Operating Cost and Revenues	Archived
2017-03	2018 MNP Inflation Factors	Archived
2017-02	2018 Annual Rent Increase Guidelines	Archived
2016-05	2017 Imputed Rate of Return	Archived
2016-04	2017 MNP Inflation Factors	Archived
2016-03	2017 Benchmark Operating Cost and Revenues	Archived
2016-02	2017 Annual Rent Increase Guidelines	Archived
2013-01	Annual Information Return (AIR)	Archived
2013-02	Exclusion of CHPI Payments from RGI Income Calculation	Archived
2013-03	2014 Bench Mark Operating Costs	Archived
2013-10	Maximum Household Assets	Archived
2012-03	Section 95 Mortgage Renewal	Archived
2011-04	Cost Factors - 2012 Fiscal Year Budgets for Municipal Non-Profits	Archived
2011-03	2012 Benchmarked Operating Costs and Revenue Indices	Archived
2011-02	2012 Rent Increase Guidelines & Last Month Rent Deposit Interest (Information Bulletin)	Archived
2011-01	2011 Imputed Rate of Return for Non-Income Producing Assets	Archived
2010-05	Year End Reporting Requirements	Archived
2009-03	Benchmark Funding Model - Annual Information Return - Third and Subsequent Years	Archived
2008-09	2009 Imputed Rate of Return for Non-Income Producing Assets	Archived
2008-08	Cost Factors - 2009 Fiscal Year Budgets for Municipal Non-Profits	Archived
2008-07	2009 Benchmarked Operating Costs and Revenues Indices	Archived
2008-06	2009 Rent Increase Guideline & Last Month Rent Deposit Interest	Archived
2008-03	Benchmark Funding Model-Annual Information Return-Second Year	Replaced
2008-01	2008 Imputed Rate of Return for Non-Income Producing	Archived
2007-18	Cost Factors - 2008 Fiscal Year Budgets for Municipal Non-Profits	Archived
2007-15	2008 Benchmarked Operating Costs and Revenues Indices Revised	Archived
2007-16	Information Bulletin - Amendments to O. Reg. 298/01 and 339/01	Archived
2007-11	Annual Cost Indices for 100% RGI Providers (Section 106)	Archived
2007-16	Information Bulletin - Amendments to O. Reg. 298/01 and 339/01	Archived
2007-09	2008 Rent Increase Guideline & Interest Rate on Rent Deposits	Archived
2007-16	Information Bulletin - Amendments to O. Reg. 298/01 and 339/01	Archived
2007-04	Imputed Rate of Return for Non-Income Producing Assets	Archived
2007-02	2007 Market Rent Index	Archived
2007-01	Cost Factor - 2007 Fiscal Year Budgets for Municipal Non-Profits	Archived
2006-05	2006 Imputed Rate of Return	Archived
Resident Administration
2024-04	In-Situ Geared-to-Income Applications	Archived
2024-01	2025 Maximum Household Income Limits	Archived
2023-03	2023 Minimum Rent	Archived
2023-01	2023 Maximum Household Income limits	Archived
2022-04	22 Minimum Rent	Archived
2022-01	2022 Maximum Household Income Limits	Archived
2021-07	Minimum Rent	Archived
2021-05	Review of Decisions System	Archived
2021-02	In-situ Geared-To-Income Applications	Archived
2021-01	2021 Maximum Household Income Limits	Archived
2020-11	2021 Provincial Rent Freeze	Archived
2020-07	Minimum Rent	Archived
2020-04	Occupancy Standards	Archived
2020-06	Changes Due to COVID-19	Archived
2019-03	Maximum Household Income	Archived
2019-02	Ceasing to Meet Occupancy Standards	Archived
2019-01	Occupancy Standards	Archived
2018-04	2018 Maximum Household Income	Archived
2017-01	Centralized Waiting List-Applicant Selection and Provider Reporting	Archived
2016-06	2017 Maximum Household Income	Archived
2015-01	Fluctuating Income	Archived
2014-03	Review of Decisions	Archived
2013-15	Refusal by a Housing Provider	Archived
2013-14	Pursuit of Income	Archived
2013-13	Occupancy Standards	Archived
2013-12	Notification of Changes	Archived
2013-11	Maximum Household Income	Archived
2013-07	Refusal of Offers	Archived
2013-06	Failure to Provide Information	Archived
2010-01	Centralized Waiting List - Applicant Selection and Provider	Archived
2009-02	Excluded Income and Assets for RGI Calculations (Consolidated)	Archived
2008-10	Centralized Waiting List - Placement/Priority Forms (replaces 04-09)	Archived
2008-04	Revised Special Needs Guide (February 2008)	Archived
2008-05	Revised RGI Guide (November 2007) (Replaces 2004-01 and 2003-06)	Archived
2007-14	Excluded Income and Assets for RGI Calculations (Consolidation)	Archived
2007-13	Seniors 55+ Only Households Mandate Change (Information Bulletin)	Archived
2007-12	CWL-Revised Modification and Phase Out of Urgent Priority Rule	Replaced
2007-08	Information Bulletin - Residential Tenancies Act, 2006	Archived
2007-05	Ontario Child Benefit - Excluded Income	Archived
2006-11	Universal Child Care Benefit - Excluded Income	Archived
2006-10	2007 Rent Control Guideline (Information Bulletin)	Archived
2006-09	Signatures Required on Lease/Occupancy Agreements	Archived
2006-08	Internal Transfer List and Overhoused Households	Replaced
2006-07	Market to RGI	Archived
2006-03	Pursuit of Income (Local Rule)	Replaced
2006-02	Mid-Term Review of Eligibility for Rent-Geared-to-Income Assistance	Replaced
2006-01	Absence from a Unit	Replaced
Asset Management
2008-02	Appendix A - Capital Planning Guidelines	Replaced
2008-02	Required Annual Capital Budget Submissions	Replaced
2007-17	Information Bulletin - Designated Substance - Asbestos	Archived
2007-03	Ontario Home Electricity Relief Programme	Archived
2006-04	Fire Code - New Requirements for Multiple Smoke Alarms (Information Bulletin)	Archived

2026 Guides

The County of Wellington Affordable Rental Housing Development Resource Guide was updated in 2021 and is made available by the County of Wellington as a resource to individuals and groups wanting to develop, build and operate affordable rental housing. The County of Wellington RGI Guide is intended for use by staff of the County of Wellington and housing providers in the County of Wellington to administer rent-geared-to-income (RGI) under the Housing Services Act.

Data

Effective use of data and research is critical to achieving our housing and homelessness goals.

Centralized Waiting List & Housed Data

All applications for Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) assistance for subsidized housing located in Guelph-Wellington are managed by the County of Wellington through the Centralized Waiting List. This "one-stop" centralized approach means applicants only need to complete one application form to apply to multiple housing providers for RGI assistance.

The number of households on the Centralized Waiting List fluctuates over time as individuals are housed, new households are added to the list, and outdated files are removed from the waiting list.

**Table 1 - Total Active Applications**
Quarterly Breakdown (2024)	2025 Q1	2025 Q2	2025 Q3	2025 Q4
Total Number of Households on the CWL	3,503	3,674	3,406	3,582

**Table 2 - Total Housed by Housing Type (incl. transfers)**
Quarterly Breakdown (2024)	2024 Q1	2024 Q2	2024 Q3	2024 Q4
Transfers	11	6	12	11
Affordable	2	0	3	1
RGI	29	28	28	28
Total Housed	42	34	43	40

Core Housing Need

Core housing need is a vital 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?

Households are in core housing need when they live in unsuitable, inadequate or unaffordable dwellings, and are not able to afford alternative housing in the community.

Nearly 10% of all households in Guelph- Wellington (7,690 households) were living in core housing need in 2021, below the provincial rate for Ontario of 12%. The main reason for households being in core housing need is due to affordability.

**Households in Core Housing Need - 2021 Census**
Township/Municipality	% All Households Core Housing Need	% Owner Households Core Housing Need	% Tenant Households Core Housing Need
Centre Wellington	5.2	2.4	17.1
Erin	3.3	2.5	10.5
Guelph (City of Guelph)	10.8	5.2	21.8
Guelph/Eramosa	5.5	2.9	28.6
Mapleton	5.1	2.7	16.9
Minto	3.1	1.2	8.8
Puslinch	4.4	4.3	0
Wellington North	8.9	4.2	21.5
Wellington Service Area (total)	8.7	4.2	20.6

Source: Statistics Canada, Census of population, 2021

Vacancy Rate

The rental vacancy rate is the percentage of all purpose built rental that are vacant or unoccupied at a particular time. If vacancy rates are low, it is harder to find a unit. In Ontario, a 3% overall vacancy rate is
generally accepted as an indicator of a balanced rental market.

**Vacancy History Rate - County of Wellington**
Unit Type/Year	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018
Bachelor	0.0%	1.4%	0.5%	0.0%	0.0%	5.9%
1 Bedroom	1.4%	1.3%	1.2%	0.7%	1.3%	1.6%
2 Bedroom	2.0%	1.1%	1.0%	0.9%	1.1%	1.2%
3+ Bedroom	4.3%	3.6%	1.9%	2.3%	3.3%	0.4%
Total	1.9%	1.3%	1.1%	1.0%	1.6%	1.4%

Source: Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Common Local Indicators 2018

Note: Vacancy rate data is collected by the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and reported annually in the Rental Market Survey. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Rental Market Survey only collects data from municipalities with a population of 10,000 or greater.

Affordability

External Data Sources

CMHC Average Market Rents

Average Market Rents (AMRs) are updated annually based on the results of Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation’s Rental Market Survey, which surveys privately initiated structures with 3 or more units in Centres 10,000+.

AMRs are typically published on the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing website.

AMRs are used by Service Managers in the delivery of different programmes, and for planning and policy purposes.

Average Rents ($) by Unit Type from Apartment Structures from RMS October 2024

Unit Type	Bachelor	1Bdrm	2Bdrm	3Bdrm	Total Bdrm
Average Market Rent (AMR)	$1,253	$1,563	$1,714	$1,880	$1,658

Housing Income Limits (as of January 2026)

In December 2021, the Ministry approved amendments to Ontario Regulation 370/11 under the Housing Services Act, 2011.

The table below reflects household income limits (HILs) for the City of Guelph and County of Wellington as of January 2025 (Schedule 2 O. Reg 370/11).

Region/Unit Type	Bachelor	1 Bdrm	2 Bdrm	3 Bdrm	4 Bdrm
City of Guelph	$41,500	$56,000	$65,500	$71,000	$83,500
Wellington County	$32,000	$46,000	$52,500	$56,000	$65,000

The most up to date Household Income Limits, including High Need Household Income Limits (Schedule 1) can be found under O. Reg. 370/11 of the Housing Services Act, 2011.