Social Housing in Ottawa
Social housing is rental housing, which was constructed under both federal and provincial building programs. Rents are set according to the eligible renter’s income – ensuring no household pays more than 30 per cent of their income towards rent. The rents collected from the close to 22,500 units in Ottawa cover half the social housing’s operating costs, with the other half coming from City subsidies and federal transfer payments.
The City of Ottawa’s Housing branch is responsible for the administration and funding of social housing in Ottawa. There are about 22,500 social housing units in Ottawa. Rental rates for social housing are set according to the income of the renter, with households paying no more than 30 per cent of their income towards rent. There are 56 independent non-profit housing organizations that operate social housing in neighbourhoods across the city. The waiting time for social housing in Ottawa can be up to five years.
To apply for social housing in Ottawa, please contact the Social Housing Registry. The Registry maintains the centralized waiting list for social housing. The Registry is located at 2197 Riverside Drive, and can be reached by phone at 613-526-2088.
With over 9,500 households on the waiting list for social housing, the waiting time can be over five years – depending on the size of your household. However, there are agencies in the community that can help you with your search for affordable housing in the private market.
Housing Help (http://www.housinghelp.on.ca/)
116 Lisgar Street, 2nd floor
Tel. 613-563-4532
Fax 613-563-8019
Action-Logement
261 Montreal Road
Tel. 613-562-8219
Fax 613-241-1526
Financial Assistance
If you need help with living costs, please contact the Employment and Financial Assistance branch of the City of Ottawa, by calling 3-1-1 or by visiting the following link.
Which level of government is responsible for operating and funding social housing?
Municipal governments – like the City of Ottawa – are responsible for the both the funding and administration of social housing programs. In 2002, the Ontario government passed legislation (Social Housing Reform Act) that transferred this responsibility from the Province to municipalities.
The City subsidizes 56 housing providers in Ottawa, at a gross cost of $109 million in 2008. The City will receive $32.7 million in capped funding from the federal government and $2.7 million for the provincially funded rent supplement program, leaving a net cost of $74 million to the City.
What is the Ottawa Community Housing Corporation?
Ottawa Community Housing Corporation (OCHC) is the largest social housing provider in Ottawa, and the City is the sole shareholder..
Ottawa Community Housing Corporation’s board of directors is appointed by City Council, and is responsible for setting the budget and hiring management and staff.
OCHC staff and management handle the day-to-day operations, including responding to and handling tenant concerns. For more info on the OCHC, visit their Web site.
Many social housing units are in Ontario in need of repair, how is the situation being handled in Ottawa?
Municipalities across Ontario have experienced a shortfall of funds to allocate towards the reserves for the upkeep/repairs of social housing units. This has created a potential legal risk for both the City and housing providers. The replacement value of the total social housing stock in Ottawa is estimated at over $2.8 billion. The current deficit in the upkeep of social housing units across Ontario is running from $600 to $700 per each unit.
The capital requirements for Ottawa’s social housing are close to $300 million. More information on Ottawa’s social housing repairs is outlined in the staff report.
Last year, Ottawa City Council provided $12 million in grants to social housing providers for urgent capital repairs. In March 2008, the provincial government announced an additional $8.2 million would be given to the City to fund the maintenance. These allocated funds will have a significant impact on the physical conditions of the social housing stock. In the longer term, further significant funding is required to ensure that this community asset remains in good condition.
