Housing Supports
Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit
Learn about the
Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit
The Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB) provides a direct, monthly benefit to eligible households to help pay their rent.
The benefit payments are:
- portable, which means you may receive the benefits even when you move to another address
- based on the household’s income and local market rent.
The benefits are administered by the province through the Ministry of Finance and eligibility is assessed annually. Annual renewal applications are issued from the Province each May and must be returned by September 1st.
Clients who do not return their annual renewal by the deadline will no longer be eligible to receive assistance through the COHB program. Reinstatement into the program is not permitted
Following the annual review, the COHB amount may increase or decrease because of changes in residence, income and/or household size. The benefit amount is calculated according to the average local market rent of the area lived in.
Current Target Groups
In Hamilton, the application process is not open to the public. Persons experiencing chronic homelessness, victims of abuse and households whose housing allowances are ending have been identified as a priority group to receive this benefit.
COHB applicants must reside permanently in Ontario and be on, or eligible to be on, the Access to Housing Centralized Waiting List for Social Housing.
Program Guidelines
- The benefit amount will depend on the household size and income.
- The amount is calculated using a formula that includes household income, the number of people in the household and the local market rents.
- To receive the COHB, applicants must agree to be removed from the Centralized Waiting List for social housing.
- Households cannot receive COHB and Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) housing or any other form of housing benefit at the same time.
Preparing for an Application
The following documents must be submitted as part of an application for COHB:
• Current address or the one you plan to move to
• Rent/utility costs
• Direct Deposit information
Household members with income (who are not full-time students) must provide:
• Their most recent Notice of Assessment from the Canada Revenue Agency
• Social Insurance Numbers for all adult members of a household
• E-mail address and phone number
For recipients of social assistance:
• A current statement of assistance
• All payments under the COHB program are exempt as income for the purposes of social assistance and will not affect benefits from Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program.
After the Application
The Ontario Ministry of Finance (MOF) will contact eligible recipients directly to inform them if the application has been approved.
If approved, please contact the Province’s Information Centre for questions about the COHB at:
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