Local Rent-Geared-To-Income Standards Approved
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City Council recently approved local eligibility standards for rent-geared-to-income (RGI) housing, setting maximum gross income limits for RGI eligibility - among other local rules - and adopting provincial standards as prescribed by the Social Housing Reform Act of 2000.
At its July 16 meeting, council passed the following resolution:
WHEREAS the Social Housing Reform Act (SHRA), 2000 and corresponding Regulations define provincial eligibility rules and permit the service manager to establish local eligibility standards for rent-geared-to-income assistance (RGI);
AND WHEREAS extensive consultation has been undertaken with the Not-For-Profit Housing Advisory Group (NPHAG) on local standards;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the City Council approve the following local eligibility standards for rent-geared-to-income assistance as local policy:
- The application form for rent-geared-to-income assistance will be comprised of a Part A and a Part B .
- The maximum gross income limit by type of program be a sliding download scale from a maximum of $52,181 as prescribed by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs & Housing for federally administered projects to provincial household income limits as shown in the chart attached.
- Project specific household income limit be allowed to reflect rural locations,
- The maximum allowable period for a rent-geared-to-income tenant to be absent from the unit be ninety (90) consecutive days,
- Rent-geared-to-income households convicted of misrepresentation under the Canadian Criminal Code or found by the Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal or court of law to have misrepresented income be barred from re-application for rent-geared-to-income assistance after a five-year period;
AND FURTHER IT BE RESOLVED all other provincial standards as prescribed under the Social Housing Reform Act, 2000, Reg. #298/01 amended to 452/01 and any other related amendments be adopted as local policy as listed below:
- Timeframe for written notice to the member of the household regarding the completeness of the re-submitted application form remains at seven (7) business days.
- Timeframe for written notice to the member of the household re-submitting the request for special priority household category remains at seven (7) business days.
- Timeframe for written notice to the household regarding the completeness of the re-submitted application form for special needs housing remains at seven (7) business days.
- Maximum aggregate household asset amount not established.
- Payments to be excluded from gross household income remains as prescribed in the Regulation.
- Payments to be excluded from household assets remains as prescribed in the Regulation.
- Repayment agreement and repayment schedule for arrears in extenuating circumstances.
- Repayment agreement and repayment schedule for arrears in extenuating for special priority household.
- Period of time for making application seeking specified financial assistance remains at ten (10) business days.
- Period of time specified in the notice to inform of results of the application to obtain financial assistance remains at ten (10) business days.
- Divestment of residential property remains at 180 days as prescribed by the Regulation with the opportunity to extend with appropriate documentation to support extension (i.e. flat market, etc.)
- Divestment of residential property for special priority households shall be extended with appropriate documentation.
- The service manager may review the eligibility more frequently than once in every 12-month period, as prescribed by the Regulation.
- Procedural matters for rent increases of less than $10.00 are not implemented.
- Extenuation period for a request for internal review for applicants to be consistent with central waiting list operating procedures for tenants, at the discretion of housing providers.
