Looking for Affordable Housing

Affordable rental housing is delivered by municipalities. For tenants looking for affordable rental units, please contact your local municipality. The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing website has links to housing resources for those seeking assisted housing, rent-geared-to-income housing or social housing. Please visit www.mah.gov.on.ca/Page132.aspx

Contact information for your Local Housing Authority can also be found in the blue pages of your local telephone book, or by calling 1-866-846-3949 General questions about assisted housing can be directed to shbcontact@mah.gov.on.ca.

Community Start-Up Allowance

Provides assistance for purchasing furniture, and other household items. For people on social assistance throughout the province.
Telephone: 1-888-465-4478 or 416-392-2956

Share the Warmth (Province-wide)

Share the Warmth (English Only) is a registered, not-for-profit charity that purchases heat and energy on behalf of families, seniors, terminally ill and disabled persons living at or near the poverty level. Share the Warmth does not give money directly to applicants, but rather 100% of all public donations are converted into heat and energy for households across the province. To apply for energy assistance, you may contact your local participating utility for the nearest application centre.
Address:
P.O. Box 3003, 1027 Finch Avenue West
Toronto, ON M3J 3L6
E-mail: info@sharethewarmth.org

Social Assistance

To apply for social assistance (Ontario Works), you need to contact the local Social Services department of your city government. The Regional Offices of the Ministry of Community and Social Services can provide you with contact information for your local Social Services office.

Co-operative Housing

Housing co-ops can offer secure and affordable housing in a community setting. Several co-ops can also accommodate the specialized needs of women, seniors, students, artists and people with disabilities. To find out more about the mandate, availability and location of housing co-ops in your area, you may consult your regional co-operative housing federation. For a full listing of co-op housing federations in Ontario, please see the website of the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada.
Telephone: 1-800-268-2537

Landlord and Tenant Board

The role of the Landlord and Tenant Board is to provide information about the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA) and to resolve disputes between landlords and tenants about rights and responsibilities under the Residential Tenancies Act, including rent control, and landlord and tenant issues.
Telephone: 1-888-332-3234 or 416-645-8080

Tenants' Rights

The website of Community Legal Education Ontario has a series of on-line brochures in plain English to help tenants understand their legal rights. Topics include Fighting an Eviction, Harassment and Discrimination, Maintenance and Repairs, and Moving Out.