General Information Sheet

Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB) is to increase the affordability of rental housing by providing income and asset tested, portable housing benefit payment directly to eligible households in housing need.

Do You Qualify?

In order to qualify for COHB:

• The Adjusted Family Net Income (AFNI) for your unit size must not exceed the limits as set by the Ministry of Finance. Income is based on line 23600 of the previous year’s income tax Notice of Assessment. Please ensure you have filed your income tax return for the most recent year. This document will be required at the time of your application. If your current income does not reflect last year’s income, you will need to provide current paystubs and/or bank statements to determine your projected annual income.
• The monthly rent for your unit size must not exceed the limits shown below.

2020-2021 Average Market Rent

• The unit must be located within the City of Cornwall or the United Counties of S. D. & G.
• Your household liquid assets (cash, bank accounts, investments that can be easily converted to cash) must not exceed $50,000 (single) and $75,000 (couple/family).
• Eligible applicant will receive a monthly subsidy based on the difference between 80% of the Average Market Rent of the relevant service area and 30 % of the Adjusted Family Net Income.
• reside permanently in Ontario;
• either a Canadian Citizen, permanent resident, has made an application for status as a permanent resident under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada), has made a claim for refugee protection under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) and no removal order has become enforceable under that Act against the member;
• be on a social housing waiting list or eligible to be on such a list or living in community housing;
• not be in receipt of or part of a household in receipt of RGI assistance, a COHB benefit, or any other government-funded housing benefit, with the exception of social assistance shelter payments;
• consent to being removed from the social housing waiting list of the Service Manager where the application was completed;
• not reside in a home suitable for year-round occupancy (within or outside Ontario) owned by a member of the household within 90 days of being determined eligible; and
• has applied for the COHB program and provided the necessary information for the calculation of the benefit.