Housing Support Programs

CHH provides housing while working in partnership with community agencies to provide access to the supports and services tenants need to improve their well-being and quality of life. Together, we are building safer and healthier communities.

Tenant Support Workers

Every tenant can access a Tenant Support Worker to assist with eviction prevention. Tenant Support Workers can help you fill out forms or paperwork, or if are having trouble with arrears or other issues that may jeopardize your tenancy. Look for the Tenant Support Worker contact information posted throughout your building or talk to you Property Manager to learn more.

Food Security

Food security is a real, ongoing need for many tenants, particularly among vulnerable seniors. To help tenants during the COVID-19 pandemic, an emergency food bank in partnership with Hamilton Food Share was established, as well as broader food security strategy in cooperation with community partners. Thanks to partners like St. Matthews House, Goodwill, Alzheimer Society of Hamilton Halton, Wesley and Food for Life, we will continue working to provide nutrition for our most vulnerable tenants.

If you are a CHH tenant without family and friend support and are in need of emergency food, please call 905-523-8496 ext. 5179 or contact the Tenant Support Worker in your building.

Tenant Led Groups

CHH supports tenant led groups through a small grant system and the use of common spaces. Groups vary based on the interest of tenants in each building and include, but are not limited to: arts, crafts, music, knitting, bingo, card games, barbecues, dances and food banks.

Vanier Towers

Vanier Towers are two sister CHH buildings located at 95 Hess Street West and 181 Jackson Street South. As part of a community hub pilot, a range of services are provided on-site to ensure Vanier tenants are safe, healthy and supported. Services include:

• Physician/Clinic, with Shelter Health Network
• Social Worker/Addictions Support/Peer Support, with St. Joseph’s Hospital and Grenfell Ministries
• Eviction Prevention, with CHH Tenant Support Workers
• Community Kitchen, Food Pantry, Urban Farm and Food Programming, with Wesley
• Art Therapy and Peer Support, with Healing Arts Recovery with Peer Support (HARPS)
• Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program
• Supported housing for Indigenous youth, with the Hamilton Regional Indian Centre (HRIC)

Community Gardens

The Community Gardens program helps tenants to eat healthy, stay active, learn skills and strengthen their social support network. The program addresses the need for healthy and safe communities, while supporting culture and diversity, food security initiatives, recreation, reducing barriers of isolation, environmental stewardship, leadership development and so much more.

Learn more about the Community Gardens program(PDF, 153.04 KB). 

Supports for Seniors

• The Gwen Lee Supportive Housing Community Program, operated by St. Elizabeth Visiting Nurses, provides 24/7 support to seniors and individuals with disabilities at 191 Main Street West.
• Main/West Seniors Centre, operated by the City of Hamilton’s Recreation Division, located at 200 Jackson Street West.
• Wellness programming, facilitated by CHH varies in CHH buildings, based on partnership availability, building need and interest. Check the information boards at your building.
• CHAPS clinics: Paramedics attend weekly clinics and are available to check blood pressure and vitals. They have facilitated many immediate transfers to hospital, saving lives.
• Age-Friendly Programming: Partnerships with universities and colleges to address senior isolation. Examples include letter writing programs and intergenerational projects to support seniors with technology needs.

Supports for Families

• LARCH after-school program for homework assistance and recreation. In partnership with Elliot Heights Baptist Church and the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board and the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board, the program is located at 980 Upper Ottawa Street.
• Boys and Girls Club operate an after-school program at 77 Purnell Drive and 2 Oriole Crescent complexes.