Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program

Current information is available on the Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP). This is a program to assist Landlords in the cost of repairs to rental properties that are available to low income tenants. Landlords can obtain copies of the latest brochures for RRAP at our main office in Belleville. This program is offered through the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation. (CMHC/SCHL). CMHC can be contacted directly at 1-800-704-6488 or go on line at www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca.

The Rent Supplement Program

The Government of Ontario has introduced a new rent supplement program. This program is part of the government's commitment to address the problem of homelessness. The province currently administers some 13,000 rent supplement agreements with private landlords. This program, while retaining most of the beneficial aspect of existing agreements, contains some new provisions designed to meet the needs of landlords and tenants alike.

Rent Supplement offers eligible low-income applicants rent-geared-to-income accommodation in non-profit and privately owned buildings. A rent supplement subsidy is provided to landlords to bridge the gap between the market rent for the unit and the amount the tenant can pay based on their income.

The program is primarily aimed at private sector landlords and builders. These parties will enter into a rent supplement agreement with the province. Under this agreement the province will refer tenants to the landlord, stipulate the rent to be paid by the tenant to the landlord, and pay a rent supplement to the landlord reflecting the balance of the market rent for the unit. The landlord will enter into lease with the tenant and the standard relationship between the landlord and tenant will apply as per the Tenant Protection Act.

Applicants will have the option of entering into 3, 4 or 5-year agreements. At the end of the term of the original agreement, the administrator of the program at that time will have the choice of renewing the agreement in order to extend it beyond the original 3 to 5 year term.

For more information on how to apply contact: Scott Robertson, Housing Manager, Hastings Housing Program Branch, 613 968-3465.