Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing

Ministère des Affaires municipales et du Logement

Office of the Minister 777 Bay Street, 17th Floor Toronto ON M7A 2J3 Tel.: 416 585-7000

Bureau du ministre 777, rue Bay, 17e étage Toronto ON M7A 2J3 Tél. : 416 585-7000

December 20, 2019

His Worship Drew Dilkens Mayor City of Windsor 350 City Hall Square PO Box 1607 Windsor ON N9A 6S1

Dear Mayor Dilkens:

Yesterday, Minister Hussen and I announced details about the exciting work our governments have been doing to launch the upcoming Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit program under the National Housing Strategy.

This highly anticipated program will provide a portable housing benefit directly to thousands of Ontario households. We expect over 5000 households will receive critical housing assistance in the first year of the program, which includes about 1500 households transitioning from Ontario's Portable Housing Benefit – Special Priority Policy program for survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking.

By 2027-28, we expect over 40,000 households will be assisted, with a total program spend of up to $1.46 billion split evenly between the provincial and federal governments.

Our government for the people understands the importance of housing that is affordable, adequate and accessible, and that meets the needs of Ontario's diverse communities and populations. Despite the significant fiscal challenges that our government continues to face, we have committed to supporting critical housing investments and to leveraging federal funding through new provincial investments.

The Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit

I am now pleased to provide more information on the Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit, which will begin in April 2020.

As you may know, our government committed to co-design, cost-match and deliver this program. The Province has since finalized negotiations with the federal government and has received the necessary funding and program design approvals to proceed with