Phone: 905-686-2661
Toll-free: 1-866-746-3696
Housing Supports
Housing Supports
Check out the Renter's Toolkit for a self-help guide on renting in Durham Region.
It is very important that you reach out for help as soon as possible if you are worried about paying your rent, having problems with your landlord or get an eviction notice. We can help you with supports if you reach out early so that we can save your tenancy. Homelessness in Durham is increasing and we want to make sure that you can stay housed.
Housing Outreach Workers and Eviction Prevention Workers
You can ask a housing outreach worker to help you:
- Find housing if you are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless
- Negotiate with a potential landlord
- With housing-related transportation
- Connect to other services (e.g. credit counselling or Ontario Works)
- With budgeting
Apply for Housing Programs
You can ask an eviction prevention worker to help you:
- Mediate with your landlord
- Learn about your rights and responsibilities as a tenant
- At the Landlord and Tenant Board
- Apply for programs that may help you to stay in your home
There are housing outreach and eviction prevention workers in:
John Howard Society
Phone: 905-623-6814
John Howard Society
Phone: 905-579-8482
Housing Stability Program
The Housing Stability Program (HSP) helps eligible low-income households in Durham Region with financial assistance to obtain housing or prevent homelessness. Financial assistance includes financial support for a Last Month’s Rent Deposit and up to two months of Rental or Utility Arrears.
HSP helps Durham households who can generally pay their expenses, but due to unforeseen circumstances cannot meet their costs for a short period or must move to secure more affordable accommodations.
You may only access HSP assistance once in a 3-year period for the application you have been approved for. This means that if you have been approved for Last Month’s Rent, you are still eligible to receive Rental or Utility Arrears within that time.
The HSP is only available to residents of Durham Region who have lived here for 3 or more months.
Your net household income must meet the low-income measure program limits:
-
- 1 person - annual net income less than $28,863
- 2 persons - annual net income less than $40,818
- 3 persons - annual net income less than $49,992
- 4 persons - annual net income less than $57,726
- Additional Household sizes can be found here.
You must be able to demonstrate that you do not have an ability to pay using your current income or assets.
You will be required to provide the program with verification of all information including identification documents, citizenship documentation including birth certificate or immigration documents, bank statements and income verification.
Consent forms will be signed to store information in our Regional and Federal data bases. For recipients of OW/ODSP the HSP Program Assistants will obtain this consent to connect with your OW or ODSP caseworker. Consent will also be obtained to connect and verify with your landlord or utility provider. Receipts will be requested to verify moving costs.
Applications are accepted online via the link below or you can contact our Coordinated Intake and Eligibility Unit at 905-666-6239 ext. 1803.
Click here to start the application. You can save the application as you progress. Service providers can complete the application on behalf of you clients however contact will be required directly with the client.
HSP approvals are subject to funding availability.
Intent to Rent or Rental Information Form
Extreme Clean Program
The Extreme Clean Program may be able to help if you are being evicted because your unit is very unclean or cluttered.
Durham Hoarding Support Services
The Durham Hoarding Support Services program helps people with hoarding behaviour stay housed and safe
Brain Injury Association of Durham Homelessness Prevention
The BIAD Homelessness Prevention Program helps people who have experienced a cognitive disability and are struggling with housing issues.