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Housing Outreach, Eviction Prevention and Utility and Rent Arrears Resources

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Get help with housing, utility bills and eviction prevention

There is help available if you are homeless and trying to find housing, or if your housing does not meet your needs. There are also resources you can access if you are being evicted, worried that you are going to be evicted, or are behind in your utility or rent payments.

If you have trouble paying your bills on an ongoing basis, you may need to consider other options to lower your monthly bills or rent. You can also apply for financial help from Ontario Works.

Most utility companies want to work with customers who are at risk of falling behind in their bill payments. If you are having trouble paying utility bills, contact the customer service department of your utility provider for assistance.

You should also make sure you know about your rights and responsibilities as a tenant.

Check out the Renter's Toolkit, which can help you search for and secure housing, deal with issues that come up as a tenant, or help you plan your next move.

In this toolkit, you will find:

Answers to common questions about finding and maintaining housing
Direct links to resources that can help
Tip sheets and worksheets that you can use

Are you looking for a place to live?

Durham Region Housing Department provides information about affordable housing options and assistance in Durham.

Housing Outreach Workers

You can ask a housing outreach worker to help you. They can:

Help you to find housing if you are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
Help you to negotiate with a potential landlord.
Help you with housing-related transportation.
Make referrals to other services (e.g. credit counselling or Ontario Works).
Help you with budgeting.
Help you apply for housing programs.

Housing Outreach Workers are available through organizations across Durham Region.

Are you at risk of eviction?

Read about the laws that affect landlords and tenants in Ontario at Renting in Ontario: Your Rights.

The Ontario government offers information about landlord/tenant laws in Ontario, how to make a complaint and how they can help if a landlord or tenant breaks a rule under the Residential Tenancies Act. Learn more about how to solve a disagreement with your landlord or tenant.

Eviction Prevention Workers

You can ask an eviction prevention worker to help you. They can:

Help you to mediate with your landlord.
Help you learn about your rights and responsibilities as a tenant.
Go with you to the Landlord and Tenant Board.
Help you apply for programs that may help you to stay in your home.

Eviction Prevention Workers are available through organizations across Durham Region.

Extreme Cleaning Program

The Extreme Cleaning program may be able to help if you are being evicted because your unit is very unclean or cluttered. This program provides an intensive cleaning service and follow-up care to meet public health standards and prevent evictions. Contact VHA Home HealthCare or call 1-888-314-6622 extension. 4218 for more information.

Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO)

If you share rental housing or rent from another tenant, the RTA may not apply to you. CLEO provides this online tool to help you find out your rights and responsibilities when sharing with another person.

CLEO also provides fact sheets and publications about Housing Law and your rights.

The Advocacy Centre for Tenants Ontario provides Tip Sheets with information about specific rental and eviction scenarios, access to Tenant Duty Counsel advice, information about Housing Law and links to advocacy resources.

The Durham Community Legal Clinic (DCLC) provides free legal services for low income residents of Durham Region, including help with tenant rights. The DCLC may be able to assist with the Landlord Tenant Board.

Contact a Housing Outreach or Eviction Prevention worker in your area

Housing Outreach workers can help find housing, assist with referrals and information about housing programs and are available through organizations across Durham Region.

Eviction prevention workers support people at risk of eviction and can be accessed through organizations across Durham Region.

Find contact information for Housing Outreach and Eviction Preventions workers in your area.

Are you behind in your rent?

The Housing Stability Program (HSP) may be able to help if you are behind in your rent and are at risk of eviction, or if you are homeless and need to secure rental accommodations.

For eligible low-income households, benefits could include:

Rent arrears to a maximum of two months.
Heat or utility arrears to a maximum of two months, as well as connection fees and security deposits
Last month's rent deposit.
Moving costs based on the size of the household.

Have questions? Email HousingStabilityProgram@durham.ca or call 905-666-6239, ext. 1803.

Are you behind in your utility bills?

Contact the customer services department of your utility provider to discuss your situation. The company may be able to work with you and avoid disconnection.

If you are struggling with paying your water bill, get more information at Durham Region Water Billing

Housing Stability Program

The Housing Stability Program (HSP) provides help for qualified Durham residents to keep affordable rental housing and financial assistance for unexpected heat or hydro bills. For eligible, low-income households, benefits could include heat or utility arrears to a maximum of two months, as well as connection fees and security deposits.

Ontario Electric Support Program (OESP)

The Ontario Electric Support Program (OESP) provides low-income consumers with monthly on-bill credits to reduce their electricity bill.

Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)

The Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) is a one-time grant toward electricity or natural gas bill for those facing service shut off.

Oshawa Power Financial Assistance Programs

Oshawa Power offers an Arrears Management Program to help customers who have fallen behind in their payments. They also offer a Compassion Fund and work with the Shine Through the Rain Foundation to offer the Rainy Day Fund for customers who have been diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. Learn more here.

Are you behind on your Property Tax bill?

There are several region-wide property tax rebate programs for Durham's property owners. Local area municipalities administer the programs. Program eligibility requirements and rebates are the same in all local area municipalities, but the application processes may be different for each of them.

In addition to the region-wide programs listed below, your local area municipality may have additional property tax rebate programs available. Information about these programs is available by contacting your local area municipality's property tax office.

Low-income seniors and persons with disabilities

The Regional reassessment deferral program is available to low-income seniors who are 65 years or older and receiving the Federal Guaranteed Income Supplement.

This program is also available to residents with a disability who live with low-income and who are eligible for the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP).

Under this program, eligible residential homeowners may be able to defer annual reassessment related tax increases, in excess of five per cent or $100, on their personal residence.

Contact your local area municipality for more information.