How does the City support people to find and keep housing?

The City’s Housing and Homelessness Services contracts 55 community agencies to help residents get the supports they need to find and keep housing.

• General housing assistance helps residents find housing and supports to those facing eviction or dealing with other landlord-tenant issues. This includes financial assistance, case management, diversion and education. These services help residents keep their home or find alternative housing.
• Street outreach identifies people who do not have shelter and connects them with support and housing services.
• In-reach programs support people who are leaving correctional facilities with no fixed address by helping them find housing and reintegrate into the community.
• Day programs support residents receiving housing services, by providing meals, organizing events and providing connections to other community resources.
• Housing First Housing-based Case Managers support individuals and families who are no longer experiencing chronic homelessness and have permanent housing. These case managers provide individualized case management and practical supports for cooking, budgeting, maintenance, and landlord and neighbor relations.
• Housing benefits provide financial support to residents facing eviction and people who need to find housing. These benefits can help with unpaid rent and utilities, last month's rent, utility deposits, moving expenses, essential furniture and direct payment for rent.
• Supportive housing provides affordable housing and supports services to help people live independently.
• The Ontario Renovates program provides funding to help low-income seniors and people with disabilities who own their home with repairs and accessibility modifications to support independent living.
• Housing subsidies provide low-income households with financial support to help lower their rental costs.

Did you know Ottawa’s Housing First Program provides housing loss prevention through case management services targeted at maintaining housing? At any given time, more than 860 single individuals and 225 family units are being supported at various stages in their housing journey, from homelessness to stable housing.