Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
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1. What is the Provincial Rent Bank Program?
The Provincial Rent Bank Program helps improve housing stability for those who, due to an emergency or other unforeseen circumstance, are in short-term rental arrears and facing eviction. If a tenant's application to a Rent Bank is approved, the outstanding rent is paid directly to the landlord on behalf of the tenant.
2. Who operates the Provincial Rent Bank Program?
The Provincial Rent Bank program is administered by the province’s 47 municipal service managers (SMs). More than a dozen of the SMs have arrangements with community-based agencies, (e.g. the Salvation Army and the United Way).
3. Who is eligible for Rent Bank assistance?
It is up to each municipality to determine client eligibility and approve applications for assistance. In many areas, demand for the program exceeds the available supply of dollars.
4. Are there any other eligibility requirements?
Municipalities may set other eligibility criteria. Please contact your municipal service manager or Rent Bank provider in your area to find out about any additional eligibility requirements.
5. How do I apply for help?
You may contact the municipal service manager or Rent Bank provider in your area and inquire about how to apply to the Rent Bank.
6. How much money can I get from the Rent Bank?
Typically, a tenant may access up to two months of rental arrears from a Rent Bank.
7. Is support provided as a loan or a grant? And if it is a loan, will interest be charged?
8. How often can I borrow from the Rent Bank?
Typically, a tenant can apply for assistance only once every two years. However - at the municipality’s discretion, and where assistance is provided as a loan – when tenants pay back their loan sooner than the two-year period, the municipality may allow them to re-apply for assistance under the program.
9. I'm having difficulty paying my electricity bills. Can I borrow from the Provincial Rent Bank to pay arrears on utilities?
The Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services (MCSS) Energy Emergency Fund (EEF) provides assistance to low-income Ontarians, including social assistance recipients, facing energy-related emergencies.
The EEF is for energy arrears, security deposits and reconnection costs. Assistance is paid directly to energy providers. Please contact your municipal service manager for information on the Energy Emergency Fund.
10. My landlord has already started the eviction process. Can I still receive assistance from Provincial Rent Bank Program?
If you receive notice that your landlord has applied for an eviction order due to short-term rent arrears, you should contact your municipal service manager or Rent Bank provider as soon as possible. The length of time it takes to process a Rent Bank application varies, but the approval process must take place quickly since the eviction process, once initiated, can take less than a month.
