Social Housing

As of January 1, 2021, all applicants on the Access to Housing centralized wait list for Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) housing subsidy assistance will only receive one (1) offer of housing. This change will help people move into housing more quickly. 

Currently, you can refuse up to three (3) offers of housing before being removed from the wait list. As of January 1, 2021, you can receive one (1) offer of housing when you are the next person on the wait list.

If you do not accept this offer, you may lose your place on the wait list and your application may be cancelled. Offers will not be counted if they constitute exceptional circumstances.

Any refusals before January 1, 2021 will not impact your eligibility.

If your application is cancelled, you will have to reapply and wait until your name reaches the top of the wait list again before receiving an offer. Cancellation from the wait list can be reviewed by the Social Housing Review Panel. The process for requesting a Review will be outlined in your cancellation letter. 

Update your Information Yearly
Offers of housing are based on the building selections we have on file for you. Make sure you only select buildings you want to live in or would accept if offered. It is a good idea to review your information and building selections each year. If you are satisfied with your current building selections, you do not have to do anything.

To review or update your building selections, contact Access to Housing:

Call 905-546-2424 x3708
Email [email protected]
Download Building Selection Form(PDF, 1.35 MB)

To qualify for social housing in Hamilton, applicants must:

• Be 16 years of age or older and be able to live independently
• Each member of the household must be a Canadian Citizen, Landed Immigrant or Refugee Claimant
• No member of the household has a deportation order, departure or exclusion order under the Immigration Act
• No member of the household owes arrears for rent or damage to any social housing provider in Ontario
• If you own residential property, you must agree to sell within 180 days after RGI assistance is received

The following is a list of required documents that must be provided with your application for everyone listed on the application form. Some items may not apply to some individuals.

• Copies of Canadian birth certificates, Canadian passport, landed immigrant, permanent resident card or refugee claimant documents for all members of the household.
• Custody documentation (i.e. Court/ lawyer/ CAS, ex-partner, etc.).
• Copy of a repayment schedule for anyone in your household who owes money to any social housing provider in Ontario.
• Copies of household monthly income of you and all persons who will be living with you.
• Self-employed - please provide proof of income such as your latest income tax, investment Interest income, pay stubs, etc.
• Copies of owned assets of all household.
• If pregnant, provide proof of pregnancy (i.e. doctors note)
• If you are claiming homelessness, abuse, a serious medical condition, a dangerous or life threatening situation, etc., proof is required from someone in a professional position (court/ lawyer/ doctor/ police/ worker).

Applications submitted without the requested documents will not be processed. You will be advised in writing that your application is incomplete. You will not be placed on the waiting list, until all the required documents are received.

Applicants for social housing have a number of responsibilities:

• You are responsible to notify ATH of any changes to your information in order to maintain your eligibility status
• You are responsible to confirm your interest in remaining on the waiting list for housing. This confirmation must be done with ATH once a year. A reminder letter will be sent to you.

Applicants must notify Access to Housing (ATH) if:

• Your address changes
• Your phone number changes
• You want to live in locations other than those you chose on your application
• The number of people in your household changes
• The contact person on your application changes
• Your income changes
• Your Immigration status changes

Notice of any change in any information or documents must be submitted within 30 business days of the change. A longer time as may be allowed by ATH or the City of Hamilton.

Stay connected
If your contact information changes, tell us right away. We will make your file inactive if we cannot contact you. You cannot be offered housing if your file is inactive.

Keep your application up to date
The government regulations for social housing make it your responsibility to keep your application up to date. If you do not tell us about changes in your information, you could lose your place on the waiting list. Access to Housing will also review your eligibility once a year.

Stay eligible
Every member of your household must continue to meet the five conditions listed under “Who can apply for subsidized housing?”

Review your needs regularly
Review your housing needs regularly and tell us right away if your needs or preferences change.