Regulation - LGIC
Amendments to Ontario Regulation 367/11 (General) to provide a framework for a portable housing benefit
Regulation Number(s):
Instrument Type:
Regulation - LGIC
Bill or Act:
Housing Services Act, 2011
Summary of Decision:
O. Reg. 367/11 (General) under the Housing Services Act, 2011 was amended by Ontario Regulation 340/17
Ontario Regulation 340/17 came in force on September 1, 2017.
Ontario Regulation 340/17 came in force on September 1, 2017.
Further Information:
Housing Services Act, 2011
O. Reg. 367/11 (General)
Summary of Proposal
Summary of Proposal
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Proposal Number:
17-MHO003
Posting Date:
April 21, 2017
Summary of Proposal:
Recent amendments to the Housing Services Act, 2011 (HSA) allow Service Managers, at their discretion, to include a household to meet their rent-geared to income (RGI) housing obligations, known as service level standards, if they provide the household with an alternate form of financial housing assistance specified by regulation.
The Ministry of Housing is soliciting feedback on proposed amendments to Ontario Regulation 367/11 under the HSA setting out such an alternate form of assistance. The amendments would allow Service Managers to include households that receive a portable housing benefit towards meeting their service level standards if they deliver it in accordance with a portable housing benefit framework set out in the regulation.
The portable housing benefit would be Service Manager funded.
The key components of the portable housing benefit framework would be as follows:
1) Initial Eligibility & Selection
-Service Managers would be required to select a household for an offer of a benefit only from households on the Service Manager's centralized waiting list, and from households not on the list who are occupying a unit and receiving RGI assistance inside the Service Manager's service area and have expressed an interest in receiving a benefit.
-Service Managers would be required to select households in a manner that is consistent with the provincial priority rules and the Service Manager's priority rules referred to in the HSA.
-Households would not be obligated to accept an offer of a benefit.
-Households receiving RGI assistance would cease to be eligible for that assistance if they accept an offer of, and begin receiving, a benefit.
-Households on the waiting list that accept an offer of a benefit would be removed from the list unless the Service Manager is satisfied that there are extenuating circumstances.
-Service Managers would be required to help households make an informed decision and advise them and, if applicable, their authorized representatives, of:
(a) eligibility criteria and time limitations on the availability of the benefit;
(b) whether the household will be removed from the list or cease to be eligible for RGI assistance;
(c) of the difference in the level of assistance provided by a benefit as compared to RGI assistance; and,
(d) the effect the benefit may have on the recipient's social assistance.
2) Portability
-Service Managers could not require the portable housing benefit be used for a specific unit or a unit of a specific size.
Summary of Proposal continued on separate page: See link below.
The Ministry of Housing is soliciting feedback on proposed amendments to Ontario Regulation 367/11 under the HSA setting out such an alternate form of assistance. The amendments would allow Service Managers to include households that receive a portable housing benefit towards meeting their service level standards if they deliver it in accordance with a portable housing benefit framework set out in the regulation.
The portable housing benefit would be Service Manager funded.
The key components of the portable housing benefit framework would be as follows:
1) Initial Eligibility & Selection
-Service Managers would be required to select a household for an offer of a benefit only from households on the Service Manager's centralized waiting list, and from households not on the list who are occupying a unit and receiving RGI assistance inside the Service Manager's service area and have expressed an interest in receiving a benefit.
-Service Managers would be required to select households in a manner that is consistent with the provincial priority rules and the Service Manager's priority rules referred to in the HSA.
-Households would not be obligated to accept an offer of a benefit.
-Households receiving RGI assistance would cease to be eligible for that assistance if they accept an offer of, and begin receiving, a benefit.
-Households on the waiting list that accept an offer of a benefit would be removed from the list unless the Service Manager is satisfied that there are extenuating circumstances.
-Service Managers would be required to help households make an informed decision and advise them and, if applicable, their authorized representatives, of:
(a) eligibility criteria and time limitations on the availability of the benefit;
(b) whether the household will be removed from the list or cease to be eligible for RGI assistance;
(c) of the difference in the level of assistance provided by a benefit as compared to RGI assistance; and,
(d) the effect the benefit may have on the recipient's social assistance.
2) Portability
-Service Managers could not require the portable housing benefit be used for a specific unit or a unit of a specific size.
Summary of Proposal continued on separate page: See link below.
Contact Address:
Ministry of Housing
Housing Policy Branch
777 Bay Street, 14th Floor
Toronto, ON M5G 2E5
Housing Policy Branch
777 Bay Street, 14th Floor
Toronto, ON M5G 2E5
Effective Date:
September 1, 2017
Decision:
Approved