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Tenants within social housing units in
Haldimand and Norfolk Counties may be afforded rent
geared-to-income (RGI) assistance if certain eligibility
criteria have been met. Generally speaking, an eligible tenant
household pays approximately 30% of gross monthly household
income in rent each month.
Norfolk County as Service Manager is
responsible for the administration of rent geared-to-income (RGI)
assistance of tenants and applicants to social housing
providers. Eligibility for RGI assistance has been established
by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing in Part V of
the
Social Housing Reform Act, 2000, and its associated
Regulations.
Delegation
Agreements
Eligibility for RGI assistance for applicants
to social housing has been delegated from Norfolk County as
Service Manager to its agent the Haldimand-Norfolk Housing
Corporation. The Haldimand-Norfolk Housing Corporation
administer the Central Waiting List for the counties of
Haldimand and Norfolk on behalf of the Service Manager and
determine initial eligibility for RGI of applicants.
Social housing providers subject to Part V of
the
Social Housing Reform Act, 2000, have been delegated by
way of a delegation agreement, the ability to determine
continued eligibility for RGI assistance of tenants and perform
RGI rent calculation functions in accordance with the Act.
Eligibility
for RGI Assistance
Applicants and tenants seeking RGI assistance
must meet eligibility requirements as stipulated in the Act.
Generally speaking, a household is eligible
for geared-to-income assistance if:
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At least one member of the household is 16
years old or older and is able to live independently with or
without support services.
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Each household member must be a Canadian
citizen, or a landed immigrant, or a refugee claimant.
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No deportation, departure or exclusion
order has been made against any member of the household.
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No member of the household owes rental
arrears to any housing project under any housing program.
(Includes market and/or geared-to-income rent.)
If a member of
the household does owe rent arrears, the Service Manager has the
flexibility to not require payment if satisfied that there were
extenuating circumstances or if an agreement has been entered
into to repay the housing provider. There is a special provision
for a special priority household to repay 50% of the arrears if
the unit had a joint tenancy with the abuser.
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No member of the household has been convicted
of an offence under section 85 of the Act or a crime under the
Criminal Code (Canada)
regarding the receipt of RGI assistance or found by the
Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal or a court of law to have
misrepresented their income for the purpose of rent
geared-to-income.
If a former
member of the household were convicted of such a crime, the
Service Manager can determine:
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whether or not any one else in the
household knew the fraud was being committed or was able to
prevent it;
or
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the period of time for which the household cannot reapply has
expired (two years in Haldimand and Norfolk); or
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whether the household is a special
priority household and the member was forced to make the
misrepresentation
by the abuser.
Applicants or tenants who have been denied RGI assistance can request a formal review of an adverse
decision by contacting their social housing provider or
contacting the Service Manager.
See also
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