The rent supplement program is one of a variety of social housing programs including public housing (Haldimand-Norfolk Housing Corporation) and non-profit housing providers that provide subsidized housing for low-income families and individuals in Haldimand and Norfolk Counties.

The following points generally describe the program:

• Under the rent supplement program the municipality subsidizes the rents of low-income tenants who live in apartments in privately owned buildings.
• After a landlord expresses interest in participating in this program, staff of the Social Housing Division inspect prospective apartments to ensure they meet suitable maintenance and management standards and determine if there is approved funding for any tenant subsidy.
• The Haldimand-Norfolk Housing Corporation provides ongoing administration of the program on behalf of the Service Manager (assigns tenant from Central Waiting List, calculates a rent geared-to-income rent, notifies landlord etc.).
• Selected low-income tenants pay rent geared-to-income (generally 30% of their gross monthly income in rent) to a pre-approved landlord.
• The municipality supplements the tenant’s rent by paying the difference between the rent paid by the tenant and the full rent for the apartment.
• Low-income tenants sign a standard lease with an approved private landlord. The landlord is responsible for the normal landlord/tenant relationship, such as rent collection, maintenance, repairs and services offered to all tenants in the building.

For additional information on this program please contact the Social Housing Division.