Types of Social Housing in
Ontario
Non-profit housing is the main type of subsidized or social housing
in Ontario (co-op housing is the other form of social housing).There are
almost 1500 non-profit housing providers in Ontario. They can be found
in 220 communities, and range in size from 4 units to over 58,000 units.
They own and manage shared houses, townhouses, small apartment buildings
and high-rises in cities, towns and rural areas.
Universe of Social Housing
Units
What do all non-profit housing providers
have in common?
- All are non-profit corporations, overseen by a volunteer Board of
Directors, and managed by professional staff.
- All provide affordable rental housing. The majority of non-profit
housing tenants pay rents geared to their incomes (known as RGI
housing). A minority pay market rents.
- All non-profit providers receive some sort of subsidy to bridge the
gap between the actual operating costs and the rents tenants can afford.
These subsidies come from municipal, federal and provincial programs,
along with community and charitable contributions. Some non-profits
receive additional funds to provide support services for frail elderly,
mentally ill, disabled or chronically homeless people.
There are three types of non-profit
housing in Ontario:
- Private non-profits
are owned and managed by independent, community-based groups, such as
faith groups, service clubs, ethnic organizations and community
agencies.
- Municipal non-profits
are owned and operated by over 100 different municipalities across
Ontario.
- Local Housing
Corporations are owned and managed by Service Managers -
the local government body responsible for housing, social welfare and
ambulance services. Until 2001, Local Housing Corporations were owned by
the provincial government and called "public housing."
Co-operative housing is a different
form of social housing. It is not rental housing. Co-ops are owned and
managed by resident members of a co-operative corporation.
Social Housing Units in
Ontario
