To be eligible to receive a COHB an applicant must:

• Reside permanently in Ontario;
• Be either: o a Canadian citizen;
• made an application for status as a permanent resident under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada); or
• made a claim for refugee protection under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) and no removal order has become enforceable under that Act against the member.
• Be on a social housing waiting list, or eligible to be on such as waiting list, or living in community housing;
• Not be in receipt of, or part of a household in receipt of, RGI assistance, a WEHB or COHB benefit, or any other government-funded housing benefit, with the exception of social assistance shelter payments;
• Consent to being removed from the social housing waitlist of the Service Manager where the application was completed and approved;
• Not reside in a home suitable for year-round occupancy (within or outside Ontario) owned by a member of the household within 90 days of being determined eligible;
• Has applied for the COHB program and provided all required information.

Households receiving a monthly COHB must complete the MOF annual renewal process to have their ongoing eligibility and benefit amount re-assessed and confirmed. Households are obligated to update the Ministry of Finance of any changes to their household composition, address and other relevant information. Recipients who do not complete their annual renewal by the renewal deadline established by the MOF will no longer be eligible for the COHB program.

The COHB benefit is fully portable across Ontario. Participants can continue to receive a monthly benefit when they move to a rental unit in another Service Manager's area (the monthly benefit may change as the benefit is calculated utilizing the Average Market Rent for the service area in which the household resides and AMRs vary by service area).

The benefits of the COHB program include:

• Ensures a similar calculation of the benefit across the province and a consistent approach, while being responsive to local conditions;
• Enables households to retain in-year increases in income; and
• Allows applicants to live in communities that best suit their needs (e.g., education, child care, employment opportunities, community engagement).

For COHB applicants deemed eligible by MOF, Service Managers may provide funding directly for first and last month's rent, where the applicant has demonstrated to the Service Manager a need to receive the payment. MMAH will flow these funds to Service