Housing FAQs
QUESTIONS
What is the municipal cost for social housing?
What is the total program cost of social housing?
Does the County of Frontenac pay some of the cost?
Where do I make an application for subsidized housing?
How many social housing providers are there?
Are there subsidized units only in the City of Kingston?
How many units are there in total in the social housing system?
Are there different types of not-for-profit housing?
Does the Housing Division of Community Services manage any not-for-profit housing units?
Does the City own Kingston and Frontenac Housing Corporation?
What is the City currently doing to address homelessness?
What do I do if I have a complaint regarding a not-for-profit housing provider?
Is the City the only funder of social housing?
Are Town Homes Kingston and Kingston and Frontenac Housing Corporation the same?
Are there federal housing programs being developed?
Where is the Housing Program office located?
Should we be given an "Opportunity to Comment" on adverse decisions or adverse information?
When a Notice for Rent Increase is received, can tenant(s) request a review of the decision?
ANSWERS
Q: What is the municipal cost for social housing?
A: The budget for the year 2002 for the City of Kingston and the County of Frontenac has been set at $7,446,188.
Q: What is the total program cost of social housing?
A: It is estimated total program costs are in the neighbourhood of $20-$25 million a year. Program costs are reduced by federal subsidies, tenant/member rents, and non-rental revenues. The balance of expenditures are covered through municipal subsidies.
Q: Does the County of Frontenac pay some of the cost?
A: Yes, proportionate costs are paid annually based on predetermined percentages under Local Services Realignment.
A: Yes. Tenants pay rent in the public, not-for-profit, and supportive sectors.
Members in the co-operative sector pay a member charge.
Q: Where do I make an application for subsidized housing?
A: Applicants can apply at any one of the following locations:
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Social Housing Registry Program
Community and Family Services Department
City of Kingston Community Development Services Group
362 Montreal Street
Kingston, ON Canada K7K 3H5Phone: 613-546-2695, extension 4769
E-mail: theregistry@cityofkingston.caOpen Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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(Urban Access Point) Housing Help Centre
428A Barrie Street,
Kingston, ON K7K 3T9Phone: 613-531-3779
Fax: 613-544-3629Open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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(Rural Access Point) Loughborough Housing Corporation
4377 William Street
Sydenham, ON K0H 2T0Phone: 613-376-3686
Fax: 613-376-6918Open Monday to Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
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(Rural Access Point) North Frontenac Non-Profit Housing Corporation
1093 Garrett Street
Sharbot Lake, ON K0H 2P0Phone: 613-279-3322
Fax: 613-279-2716Open Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon
Application forms can be downloaded on this Web site.
Q: How many social housing providers are there?
A: There are 18 housing groups associated with the download of social housing from the province to the municipality within the City of Kingston and the County of Frontenac.
Q: Are there subsidized units only in the City of Kingston?
A: The majority of units are within the City of Kingston, however a number of not-for-profit providers are located in the Township of Frontenac.
A: Rent-geared-to-Income
Q: How many units are there in total in the social housing system?
A: There are approximately 2350 units within the sectors, including units under the rent supplement program.
A: Yes
Q: Are there different types of not-for-profit housing?
A: The sectors are made up of public, not-for-profit, co-operative and supportive housing.
Q: Does the Housing Division of Community Services manage any not-for-profit housing units?
A: No! The Housing Division of Community Services does not manage any units directly. That is left to the individual housing provider. It is the program and subsidy administration traditionally done by the Provincial and Federal Governments that is being transferred to the municipality.
Q: Does the City own Kingston and Frontenac Housing Corporation?
A: Indirectly. The Kingston and Frontenac Housing Authority was transferred by the Province on January 1st, 2001 by a provincial transfer order. The former housing authority was set up as a separate business under the Business Corporation Act. The City of Kingston was named as the sole shareholder. The Kingston and Frontenac Housing Corporation runs as a separate entity under the direction of a Board of Directors appointed by the City of Kingston.
Q: What is the City currently doing to address homelessness?
A: The City has approved an additional 65 units under the rent supplement program administrated by the Kingston and Frontenac Housing Corporation.
The City has funded a number of homelessness initiatives under the Provincial Homelessness Initiative Fund.
The City has established the Housing Division of Community Services.
Q: What do I do if I have a complaint regarding a not-for-profit housing provider?
A: The Housing Division of Community Services has a formal complaint procedure, but one must be able to demonstrate that the staff and/or Board of your group have not resolved your issue or complaint.
A: Yes, however there are targeted market rent units in the not-for-profit and co-op sectors.
Q: Is the City the only funder of social housing?
A: No! Tenants and co-op members pay rent/charges and the federal government provides federal subsidies.
Q: Are Town Homes Kingston and Kingston and Frontenac Housing Corporation the same?
A: Town Homes Kingston is a municipal not-for-profit housing corporation incorporated under the Corporations Act and Kingston and Frontenac Housing Corporation is a public housing agency incorporated under the Business Corporation Act.
Q: Are there federal housing programs being developed?
A: Yes. There are many different types of federal programs some with a subsidy program and requiring subsidy while others have no subsidized rent and no subsidy.
A: Yes. There are a number of aboriginal housing programs, however the decision to transfer them to the municipality is not yet determined.
Q: Where is the Housing Program office located?
A:
Department of Community Services
Housing Programs
362 Montreal Street, Kingston, ON K7K 3H5
Fax: 613-546-9658
A: Yes, under the prescribed requirements, section 21 (1) O. Reg. 339/001, a lease agreement must be signed by every individual who is a member of the household and at least 16 years of age.
Q: Should we be given an "Opportunity to Comment" on adverse decisions or adverse information?
A: Opportunity to comment is given to all members of the household in case of a potentially adverse decision which may be reviewed under an internal review. Members of the household may provide comments on any information under their file which forms a basis for the decision.
Q: When a Notice for Rent Increase is received, can tenant(s) request a review of the decision?
A: As prescribed in s. 56 of O. Reg. 298/01, a tenant is entitled to request an internal review of rent changes. The request must be submitted within 10 business days after the date when the notice is received by a tenant. Providers have discretion to allow later submissions, if satisfied with extenuating circumstances.
