The Toronto Emergency Rental Deposit Loan Program
This program provides an interest-free repayable loan for last month’s rent deposit to households where changes in economic situation necessitate a move to more affordable housing. Coming up with last month’s rent can be a barrier to finding new housing when your income is low. This program will help about 450 households in market housing. As well, homeowners facing foreclosure who meet eligibility criteria and need assistance to move to more affordable rental accommodation can access this program. (People receiving Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Payments are not eligible and should seek assistance from their income support worker.)...
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History

1. In June 1996, the establishment of a Rent Bank as an Eviction Prevention strategy was first identified as a recommendation from a workshop on Eviction Prevention held in Toronto. In 1997, a number of agencies in the downtown Toronto East got together in an effort to address the growing problem of homelessness of families in the community. In May 1998, this group responded to a call for Proposals from the City of Toronto for a pilot Rent Bank Project for women and children and the funding application was approved.
2. The initial project was for a 12-month period, served only women with children living in Toronto. The proposal was approved in July 1998 and the pilot project got started in September 1998.
3. The expanded phase, which is the current phase of the Rent Bank Project officially started in December of 1999. In response to the Report of the Mayor's Homelessness Action Task Force, the City of Toronto increased the Rent Bank Loan Fund to $200,000 a year (it is currently $220,000 a year. The City also broadened the eligibility criteria to cover not only single mothers, but also couples and single fathers with children. Moreover, funding was available to create 7 Rent Bank Local Service Access Centres (has been increased to 8 since) and a Central Administrative office that co-ordinates the whole project.

Toronto Rent Bank is making available to qualified applicants an interest free loan to sustain their tenancies and avoid eviction. Services include:

• Landlord & tenant mediation assistance
• Providing money management advice & skill development
• Housing search assistance
• Follow-up support and community links
• Rent Bank interest free loans for up to two months

See Map to find the Rent Bank Local Service Access Centre in your area

You may be eligible for Rent Bank Service assistance, if you meet the following requirements:
• Individual(s)/families living in Toronto with legal residential status in Canada who meet the income requirements
• Be in imminent danger of losing your housing due to rental arrears
• Landlords must be willing to keep their tenancies and tenants must be covered by the Tenant Protection Act
• Have a regular source of income
• Applicant must be paying market rent
• Housing must be sustainable

You are not eligible for Rent Bank Services if any of the following applies:
• Currently receiving Ontario Works, ODSP or OSAP
• Applicants in need of First and Last month's rent
• Applicants who fail to produce complete documentation as required by Rent Bank application process
• Applicants who do not reside in the City of Toronto
• Applicants who are homeowners

Staff will assess the tenant(s) long-term housing sustainability. Applicants should demonstrate that they have exhausted all other means of financial assistance available to them before applying the Rent Bank loan. All loans are to be paid back in full in monthly installments. All repayments go back to the Rent Bank fund to help families/individuals from being evicted.

If you have any questions or need info on any Rent Bank related services, feel free to call the Toronto Rent Bank Central office at 416-924-2543 or your nearest Local Access Center at:

Neighbourhood Information Post 416-924-2543 X226	Scarborough Housing Help 416-285-8070
Albion North Etobicoke 416-741-1553	Albion (South Etobicoke) 416-252-6471
York Community Services 416-653-5400	East York Housing Outreach 416-698-9306
WoodGreen Community Centre 416-469-5211	COSTI North York Housing 416-244-0480

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Find the Rent Bank Local Service Access Centre in your area.

Rent Bank Program funding provided by: