OFIFC: New Portable Housing Benefits Announced for Ontario

Thursday, September 14, 2017

The Housing Services Act has recently been amended to give municipalities and service managers (including District Social Services Administration Boards) the option to offer locally-funded portable housing benefits in addition to traditional rent-geared-to-income (RGI) programs.

Unlike RGI and other housing assistance programs, portable benefits are tied to the resident, not the physical housing unit. Residents are not required to live in a dedicated unit and can take their housing benefits with them if their housing needs or preferences change. Residents have more flexibility to choose where they live with the portable benefit.

In addition, the portable benefit supports greater economic opportunities. Unlike RGI, where any change in income results in an immediate impact on monthly rent, the portable housing benefit is only reassessed annually based on the resident’s tax returns. This means that recipients will be able to keep more of what they earn during the year.

The amended regulations allow municipalities and service managers to direct resources to portable benefits as part of their broader housing portfolios. In addition, the Province of Ontario has also announced an investment of $100 million annually to boost operating funding for housing assistance and support services.

The new regulations include eligibility requirements, how the benefit will be calculated, how the recipient’s income will be verified, and how the benefit will be delivered to the household.

View the amended regulations here

NT5