Category: Strategies for Staying (S4S)

Having Trouble Paying Your Housing Charge?

If you are having trouble paying your housing charge due to a short term crisis, you may be able to get help to pay the money you owe and keep your housing.

The co-op has an emergency fund, administered by co-op staff. Ask in the office.

The City of Toronto and community agencies across the city operate a number of programs designed to help tenants threatened with eviction.

Don’t delay. If you owe money for rent, get assistance as soon as possible – don’t wait until the rental arrears have grown too large. And see the co-op management, consider downsizing, as well as try these resources.

Toronto Rent Bank

Residents may be eligible for an interest-free rental arrears or rental deposit loan if they:

  • Live in Toronto with legal status in Canada
  • Pay market rent for a rental unit covered by the Residential Tenancies Act (RTA)
  • Fall within the low-income household eligibility requirement
  • Are not currently in receipt of social assistance such as Ontario Works (OW) or Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) *
  • Can satisfy other Toronto Rent Bank Program requirements, as required
  • Loan repayments can be deferred for up to 12 months.

Please call 416-397-RENT (7368) for more information on how to apply. Operating hours are Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Outside of operating hours, callers may leave a message and a representative will call back.

* Residents in receipt of social assistance should contact their Ontario Works or ODSP office as they may qualify for the Housing Stabilization Fund.

http://torontorentbank.ca/main.htm

Utilities – Energy Assistance Programs
http://www.nipost.org/energy-assistance-programs
For people having trouble paying for their electricity.
To find out about the Emergency Energy Fund, call: 416-924-2543  EXT. 223

Social Service Funds
There are a variety of funds available to help you meet needs. Check the website 211Toronto or telephone 211.

You should ask your OW or ODSP case-worker about these benefits and funds.

December 6 Fund
The YWCA December 6 Fund provides interest-free loans to women fleeing abuse. They help women establish themselves in safety. This website has a Cover Your Tracks link for privacy on the website.

https://www.ywcatoronto.org/ourprograms/supportservices/december6fundinterestfreeloans

Pay Direct
If you receive ODSB and find managing money a challenge, you can ask your worker about Pay Direct. This means that your housing charge would be paid to Woodsworth before you receive your payment.

Direct payments may be made to:
• Public or private landlord;
• Utility company; and/or
• Trust account pending the resolution of a landlord and tenant dispute.

Thank you to the pamphlet from Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation (November 2010).

For more community resources, see our list of Neighbourhood Resources and the S4S Resources page.

In Case of Emergency Information Sheet

The attached sheet from Toronto paramedics gives any emergency responders the necessary information they need to help you. The In Case of Emergency information sheet gives your particular needs, including contact information for your healthcare provider(s), caregiver(s), or personal attendant(s), and other emergency contact numbers including your veterinarian, and a detailed list of all prescriptions and medications.

Fill in as little or as much as you wish.

Whether you choose to make use of this or not is your choice. There is no co-op requirement to do this.
It is only a suggestion from the Strategies for Staying committee.

To fill it in on your computer before printing it, click on the down arrow with the paper icon which isn on the right side, just below the form. Then use the print function of your browser (File menu).

If  you will fill it in by hand, click on the down arrow first. Then use the print function of your browser.

If you are having trouble with the document, go to Toronto safety resources       Click on the printer icon beside the English ICE Sheet. Note that you will have to fill it in by hand after printing.