Housing Stability & Rent Ready Benefits
OW Recipients
Housing Services Division
350 King St East, Suite 110 Hamilton, ON. L8N 3Y3
Call 905-546-4800
Email hsb@hamilton.ca
Low-income and ODSP recipients
Hamilton Housing Help Centre
119 Main St. East Hamilton, Ontario
Call 905-526-8100
www.housinghelpcentre.ca
Indigenous community members
Hamilton Regional Indian Centre
34 Ottawa St. N. Hamilton, Ontario
Call 905-548-9593
www.hric.ca
Housing Stability Benefit
The Housing Stability Benefit or HSB helps Ontario Disability Support Program, Ontario Works recipients and people with low income maintain their housing.
- ODSP and OW recipients can receive help with last month's rent, rent arrears, appliances, moving costs, and mattresses for adults, bed for children, utility arrears and bed bug preparation and prevention.
- People with low income can receive help with utility and rent arrears.
Housing Stability Benefit eligibility criteria:
- Approved applicants are eligible for a maximum amount of money in a 24-month period.
- HSB will not be given to anyone who is setting up a residence outside of Hamilton.
- HSB is not a mandatory benefit.
Low Income is based on the 2021 Statistics Canada Low-Income Measure (LIM)
Household Size - Income (after taxes)
- 1 person - $27,352
- 2 persons - $38,682
- 3 persons - $247,375
- 4 persons - $54,704
- 5 persons - $61,161
- 6 persons - $66,998
- 7 persons - $72,367
- 8 persons - $77,363
- 9 persons - $82,056
- 10 persons - $86,495
How to apply for the Housing Stability Benefit
OW Recipients
Complete the Housing Stability & Rent Ready Benefit Request Form or Apply at Housing Services
350 King St East, Suite 110 Hamilton, ON
Call 905-546-4800
Email hsb@hamilton.ca
Low-income and ODSP recipients
Apply at the Hamilton Housing Help Centre
119 Main St. East Hamilton, ON
Call 905-526-8100
www.housinghelpcentre.ca
Rent Ready Benefit
Rent Ready is a program enhancement to support households experiencing housing precarity. Eligibility for Rent Ready is impacted by previous receipt of the maximum benefit amount for HSB or a similar housing benefit in the last 24 months. Eligible amounts are assessed on an individual basis for the Rent Ready program. Rent Ready is available until December 31, 2024 or until funds expire, whichever comes first.
- Eligible applicants can receive financial support for utility and rent arrears and last months rent.
Rent Ready eligibility criteria:
- Approved applicants must have already accessed their maximum eligibility through the Housing Stability Benefit Program.
- Rent Ready is not available for setting up a residence outside of Hamilton.
- Rent Ready is not a mandatory benefit.
How to apply for the Rent Ready Benefit
OW Recipients
Complete the Housing Stability & Rent Ready Benefit Request Form or Apply at Housing Services
350 King St East, Suite 110 Hamilton, ON
Call 905-546-4800
Email hsb@hamilton.ca
Low-income and ODSP recipients
Apply at the Hamilton Housing Help Centre
119 Main St. East Hamilton, ON
Call 905-526-8100
www.housinghelpcentre.ca
Indigenous community members:
Hamilton Regional Indian Centre
34 Ottawa St. North. Hamilton, ON
Call 905-548-9593
www.hric.ca
Funding for the Rent Ready program is provided by the City of Hamilton
Ontario Electricity Support Program
The OESP reduces the cost of your household electricity by applying a monthly credit directly to your bill. The credit you receive depends on how many people live in your home and the combined household income.