Housing Supports
Residential Care Facilities Subsidy Program
Contact Us
Questions regarding the RCF Subsidy Program
[email protected]
Complaints & Concerns
If you have a complaint about cleanliness, food quality, fire safety, health and safety, infestation or maintenance at a facility
Call 905-546-2026 - Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Email [email protected]
- Include your name and phone number
- Address of complaint
- Complaint details including dates and times
Contact information is important to staff in case additional information is required. Submitted information is kept confidential.
The RCF Subsidy Program is part of Hamilton’s housing system that helps people who need support with daily living. It prevents homelessness by making supportive housing in Residential Care Facilities more affordable. These homes provide a safe, communal setting where residents can receive the help they need while staying connected to their community. The program ensures that people who might otherwise live in shelters, hospitals, or unstable housing can find stability, dignity, and improved quality of life.
This program may be right for you if:
- You need help with daily activities such as meals, medication, or care services.
- You would otherwise be homeless or living in a shelter, hospital, or unsafe housing.
- You are looking for housing in a supportive, communal environment.
- You need financial support, in the form of a subsidy, to make your rent affordable.
The RCF Subsidy Program aspires to offer residents the choice of neighbourhood, size of residence, targeted or general client group, single or mixed gender, and single or shared rooms.
- Housing support: A subsidy to help make your rent affordable.
- Personalized care services: Supports tailored to your needs, coordinated with the facility and community agencies.
- Stable living: A safe home where you can participate in the community and improve your quality of life.
The program does not cover specialized health or therapy services. These are provided separately through provincial programs such as:
- Health care
- Mental health services
- Developmental services
RCF Eligibility
Admission to a Residential Care Facility
Eligibility for admission to a Residential Care Facility (RCF) is based on functional assessments, not specific diagnoses. This approach keeps the focus on meeting housing needs first.
All potential residents are assessed by a qualified health professional as to their eligibility for a given facility prior to admission in accordance with Schedule 20 of the By-law.
To reside in an RCF, an individual must meet the following criteria:
- Be 18 years or older
- Be able to maintain personal mobility at the time of admission
- Require help with activities such as meals, medication, or personal care (as assessed by a healthcare professional)
In addition to the criteria noted above, if you are applying to a Residential Care Facility in the Subsidy Program, a financial review for subsidy is completed by City staff.
How to apply
RCF Subsidy Program
- Connect with an RCF that is part of the Subsidy Program and ask about vacancies.
- Tour the home to see if it’s a good fit and discuss suitability with the Operator.
- Have a Schedule 20 assessment completed by a healthcare professional and return to the Operator.
- Once approved and admitted, the Operator will make a referral to the RCF Subsidy Program.
- Case workers will schedule an intake appointment to review your income and assets and the RCF Subsidy Program.
Residential Care Facilities
Frequently Asked Questions
- RCF’s are buildings where people live and received 24-hour care services.
- RCF’s can include psychiatric care homes, homes for residents with developmental disabilities, and/or geriatric care homes (also known as retirement homes).
- Retirement homes may be licensed by the Province of Ontario, under the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA).
- There are over 70 Residential Care Facilities in the City of Hamilton and over 40 Residential Care Facilities are part of the subsidy program.
| Ward | Residential Care Facility | Contact | Accessibility | Demographic |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pat's Lodging Home 237 Herkimer Street Hamilton, ON L8P 2H8 | Sharon Walker 905-572-9722 | Not Accessible | Female/Male |
| 1 | Queen's Lodge 36 Queen Street South Hamilton, ON L8P 3R5 | Jonathan (Joe) Yeboah 905-972-8444 [email protected] | Not accessible | Male |
| 1 | West Valley Suites (single rooms) 809 King Street West Hamilton, ON L8S 1K2 | Peter & Phillip Tassi 905-529-5424 | Not Accessible | Female/Male |
| 2 | Bold Street Residence 130-132 Bold Street Hamilton, ON L8P 1V3 | Tracey Vaudin 905-547-9689 [email protected] | Not Accessible | Female/Male |
| 2 | Evergreen Manor (one floor) 41 Cathcart Street Hamilton, ON L8R 1M4 | Ovid & Shay Whiteman 905-529-7779 | Limited | Female/Male |
| 2 | Faith Hope Manor 178 John Street North Hamilton, ON L8L 4P2 | Yvonne Dunbar 905-528-2932 | Not Accessible | Female/Male |
| 2 | Gradatim Retirement Home 145 Market Street Hamilton, ON L8R 1N7 | Albert & Muriel Sefa 905-529-8845 | Limited | Female/Male |
| 2 | Kelly's Residence - Robinson 144 Robinson Street Hamilton, ON L8P 1Z5 | Kelly, Peter, Margarita Kouretsos 905-527-8443 [email protected] | Not Accessible | Male |
| 2 | Kelly's Residence - West 60 West Avenue South Hamilton, ON L8N 2S3 | Kelly, Peter, Bill Kouretsos 289-389-6898 [email protected] | Not Accessible | Female/Male |
| 2 | Maxwell's Retirement Home 274 Bay Street South Hamilton, ON L8P 3J6 | Lolita Singh 905-527-8078 or 905-928-0552 (cell) [email protected] | Limited | Female/Male |
| 2 | Residence on Catherine 236 Catherine Street North Hamilton, ON L8L 4S6 | Laura Philp & Shannon Rivet 905-529-9531 | Limited | Female/Male (55+) |
| 2 | Sampaguita Lodging Home 265 Bay Street South Hamilton, ON L8P 3J6 | Amy Acierto 905-529-5084 | Not Accessible | Female/Male |
| 2 | St. Andrew's Lodge 100 Herkimer Street Hamilton, ON L8P 2G7 | Tracey Vaudin 905-547-9689 [email protected] | Not Accessible | Female/Male |
| 2 | Sunrise Lodge 160 Park Street South Hamilton, ON L8P 3E8 | Calvin Cain 905-527-8043 [email protected] | Not Accessible | Female/Male |
| 2 | Verolen's Rest Home 106 Catherine Street South Hamilton, ON L8N 2J4 | Yvonne Dunbar 905-522-0579 | Not Accessible | Female/Male |
| 2 | Wellington Lodge 94 Wellington Street South Hamilton, ON L8N 2R2 | Mariana Johnjules 905-522-9342 [email protected] | Not Accessible | Female/Male |
| 2 | YWCA - West Place 70 West Avenue South Hamilton, ON L8N 2S3 | Tara Scott (Program Supervisor) 905-527-0686 | Limited | Female |
| 3 | Adelaide's Residence 7 Blake Street Hamilton, ON L8M 2S4 | Tracey Vaudin 905-547-9689 [email protected] | Limited | Female/Male |
| 3 | East Avenue Place 65 East Avenue South Hamilton, ON L8N 2T5 | Aaron & Dorcas Haizel 905-521-1647 | Limited | Female/Male |
| 3 | Gage Park Lodge 995 Main Street East Hamilton, ON L8M 1N3 | Henry Choi (or Mary) 905-544-9476 | Not Accessible | Female/Male |
| 3 | Indwell Community Homes 118 Wentworth Street South Hamilton, ON L8N 2Y9 | Daniel Wooster 905-546-0617 [email protected] | Limited (elevator) | Female/Male |
| 3 | J&M Rest Home 849 Main Street East Hamilton, ON L8M 1L8 | Wayne & Rupert Lynch 905-544-7897 [email protected] | Not Accessible | Male |
| 3 | Jerelday Lodge 418 Main Street East Hamilton, ON L8N 1J9 | Wayne & Rupert Lynch 905-523-1102 [email protected] | Not Accessible | Female/Male |
| 3 | Kelly's Residence - Main 650 Main Street East Hamilton, ON L8M 1J8 | Kelly, Peter, George Kouretsos 905-547-1970 [email protected] | Limited | Female/Male |
| 3 | Kelly's Residence - Proctor 81 Proctor Boulevard Hamilton, ON L8M 2M5 | Kelly, Peter, George Kouretsos 905-547-1970 [email protected] | Not Accessible | Female/Male |
| 3 | Kelly's Residence - Rutherford 18 Rutherford Avenue Hamilton, ON L8M 1Y4 | Kelly, Peter, Margarita Kouretsos 905-529-6161 [email protected] | Not Accessible | Female/Male |
| 3 | Kelly's Residence - Sherman 55 Sherman Avenue South Hamilton, ON L8M 2P6 | Kelly, Peter, George Kouretsos 905-549-9009 [email protected] | Not Accessible | Female/Male |
| 3 | Kelly's Residence - Stinson 110-112 Stinson Street Hamilton, ON L8N 1S5 | Kelly, Peter, George Kouretsos 905-521-9112 [email protected] | Not Accessible | Female/Male |
| 3 | Kelly's Residence - Victoria 19 Victoria Avenue North Hamilton, ON L8L 5E1 | Kelly, Peter, Bill Kouretsos 905-522-3515 [email protected] | Not Accessible | Female/Male |
| 3 | Mabuhay Lodge 325 Wentworth Street North Hamilton, ON L8L 5V9 | Christopher & Grace Sison, Bryer Desnoyers 905-529-2725 [email protected] | Not Accessible | Female/Male |
| 3 | Main East Rest Home 939 Main Street East Hamilton, ON L8M 1M7 | Sara Almas & Stefanie 905-544-0884 [email protected] | Not Accessible | Female/Male |
| 3 | Maple Crest Manor 904 King Street East Hamilton, ON L8M 1B7 | Tracey Vaudin 905-547-9689 [email protected] | Not Accessible | Female/Male |
| 3 | Residence on Aikman 19 Aikman Avenue Hamilton, ON L8M 1P6 | Laura Philp & Shannon Rivet 905-527-4065 | Fully (elevator) | Female/Male (55+) |
| 3 | Residence on Victoria I 121 Victoria Avenue South Hamilton, ON L8N 2S9 | Laura Philp & Shannon Rivet 905-525-3314 | Limited | Female/Male |
| 3 | Residence on Victoria II 115 Victoria Avenue South Hamilton, ON L8N 2S9 | Laura Philp & Shannon Rivet 905-525-6864 | Limited | Female/Male |
| 3 | St. Clair Lodge 75 St. Clair Avenue Hamilton, ON L8M 2N6 | Wayne & Rupert Lynch 905-547-8735 [email protected] | Not Accessible | Female |
| 3 | St. Patrick's Lodge 90 Emerald Street South Hamilton, ON L8N 2V3 | Garland & Annetta Brown 289-389-5374 | Not Accessible | Male |
| 4 | Residence on Main 1605 Main Street East Hamilton, ON L8H 1C4 | Queennie Elegido 289-700-6784 [email protected] | Limited | Female/Male (55+) |
| 5 | Sunnyside Lodge 11 Lake Avenue Drive Stoney Creek, ON L8G 1X5 | Valentine Alexander 905-662-3388 [email protected] | Not Accessible | Female/Male |
| 8 | CLS Retirement Home 12 Lotus Avenue Hamilton, ON L9C 2E5 | Sonia Brown 289-755-4321 | Not Accessible | Female/Male |
| 13 | Elm Villa Retirement Home 12 Melville Street Dundas, ON L9H 1Z8 | Tonya Barasevic Hannigan 905-627-7812 | Limited | Female/Male |
| 13 | Governor's Manor 37 Ogilvie Street Dundas, ON L9H 2S3 | Tony Sciara 905-628-5782 | Not Accessible | Male |
| 14 | Olga Stella Manor 66 Skyview Drive Hamilton, ON L9B 1X5 | Mayvia Morrison 905-383-6530 | Not Accessible | Male |
| 15 | St. Thomas Mill Retirement Residence 335 Dundas Street East Waterdown, ON L0R 2H0 | Milad Barak 905-689-6449 | Limited (elevator) | Female/Male (55+) |
Your rights as a Resident:
- To live in a safe and respectful environment.
- To be treated with dignity.
- To participate in community life.
- To have a voice in your care and goals.
Your responsibilities as a Resident:
- File your income taxes annually.
- Pursue all income sources that you may be eligible for.
- Notify the Operator and your Case Worker of any changes to your income, assets and living arrangements.
There is no defined timeline, as long as your needs do not exceed the level of service provided by the RCF.
- Communal living in a welcoming, clean and pleasing environment.
- Freedom from harassment and/or the threat of violence for both staff and residents.
- Common areas that can be accessed and utilized by all residents.
- Communal spaces for dining and/or recreation and social activity.
- Accessible staffing presence.
- The provision of meal services, support for medication management and cleaning/laundry services.
- As a tenant of an RCF, you have rights under the Residential Tenancies Act
- For tenant-related concerns you can contact the Tenant Support Program at [email protected] or 905-526-2424 ext 1340
- Alternatively, if you require legal advice, you can contact the Hamilton Community Legal Clinic, 905-527-4572
- Schedule 20 of By-Law 07-170
- Schedule 20 guidelines Supporting the By-Law
- Safe food handling practices Ontario Food Premises Regulation
Public Health Inspectors check all Residential Care Facilities in Hamilton for Environmental and Food Safety requirements
Yes, the City of Hamilton Licensing By-law 07-170 requires the operator of a residential care facility to obtain a licence under Schedule 20.
For information related to:
- requirements to obtain a licence;
- documents required to renew a licence;
- information on how to change a licence holder or,
- other items related to municipal licensing including if a location is licensed.
For more information visit Business Licences
Call 905-546-2782 Option 2
Email [email protected]
In person:
- City Hall, 71 Main St E, First Floor, Business Licensing
Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm - 330 Wentworth Street N, First Floor, Business Licensing
Monday and Wednesday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Residential Care Facilities
Additional Resources
If you are receiving a subsidy for your rent, while living in a RCF, please connect with your case worker for more information on resources that may be available to you.
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