and expand social and affordable housing supply" in Windsor Essex, specifically assisting with the target to increase the number of households assisted in RGI, affordable rental housing units and/or rent assisted units by 30% by 2028.
Discussion:
Windsor Essex Housing Benefit (WEHB)
The Windsor Essex Housing Benefit (WEHB) is a monthly benefit paid directly to eligible low-income households to bridge the gap between affordable rent (roughly 30 percent of income) and average market rent for the service area. Unlike other forms of housing assistance (e.g. rent-geared to income, rent supplement), the benefit is tied to the household and not a physical housing unit, allowing the benefit to move with the household within the Windsor Essex service area. The WEHB gives recipients more flexibility to choose where they live within Windsor and Essex County, while encouraging economic and social inclusion. The WEHB utilizes a simpler way of calculating income, comparable to the approach for the child tax credit.
Housing benefits offered under the WEHB are included under legislated service level standards and conform with the Housing Services Act (HSA) framework set out in Schedule 4.1 of O. Reg. 367/11. The framework sets out rules regarding eligibility criteria, selection of benefit recipients, benefit calculation and ongoing eligibility reviews.
To be eligible to receive a WEHB an applicant must:
- Be a resident in the Windsor Essex Service Area.
- Be at least 16 years or older and able to live independently with or without support services.
- Be a Canadian Citizen, permanent resident, applicant for permanent residency or refugee claimant – and not be subject to a removal order.
- Not be receiving rent-geared-to-income (RGI), another portable housing benefit, a housing allowance, rent supplement or other housing benefit (excluding social assistance shelter allowance).
- Have income within the applicable RGI income limit set out in the Local Rules for Windsor Essex or successor directives.
- Not owe arrears for rent, damages or misrepresentation of income with respect to a social housing unit in Ontario unless they have:
- entered into a repayment agreement with the housing provider
- made reasonable efforts to enter into a repayment agreement with the housing provider.
Applicants for the WEHB will be selected utilizing the Central Housing Registry Windsor Essex wait list in accordance with the priority rankings as per the current Local Rules for Windsor Essex pursuant to the Housing Services Act. WEHB recipients will be removed from the Central Housing Registry Windsor Essex wait list and are not permitted to reapply to the centralized waitlist while in receipt of the WEHB.
A WEHB recipient ceases to be eligible for the benefit if: