Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit

The Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB) is a monthly housing allowance for low-income households to help with housing costs. The allowance is calculated based on a formula that includes the household income, the number of people in the house and the local housing market rents in the Region of Peel.

Eligibility is determined by the Ontario Ministry of Finance. All households who receive COHB must complete an Annual Renewal Application each year to ensure the continuation of their benefits.

Unlike other forms of housing benefit, COHB is attached to a person or household and not a specific address or physical housing unit.

To be eligible you must:

• Be a resident of Peel.
• Be on a centralized waiting list; or if not on the centralized waitlist, then meet the eligibility criteria to be on centralized waiting list or be living in a community housing.
• Not be receiving a housing subsidy, or any other government-funded housing benefit other than social assistance shelter payments. If so, then agree to give up the housing allowance or subsidy.
• Consent to being removed from the centralized housing wait list in Peel.
• Not own or live in a home owned by a member of their household; if so, then when approved for the program, you must move out of the home within 90 days of being determined eligible.
• Additional eligibility criteria may be required as part of the Peels Housing and Homelessness Plan

The benefit is administered through the needs-based approach. The needs-based approach to delivering housing services involves defining the level of need through a prioritization process. Clients who qualify for subsidies through this approach must actively participate in building their individual case plan.

If you need housing support, but are not sure what options are available, you can either:

• Call 905-453-1300.
• Complete our housing services screening tool.