Expansion of Portable Housing Benefit Pilot Program
Ontario government announces 22 communities to be part of pilot
FRPO is pleased that the Ontario government has decided to expand the Portable Housing Benefit program. FRPO has long advocated that a Portable Housing Benefit is an effective way to provide families with housing that they can afford.
In March, as part of its Long Term Affordable Housing Strategy, the Ontario government announced $17 million over 3 years for a Portable Housing Benefit pilot program that would focus on survivors of domestic violence. Today, the Ontario government today announced an expansion of the pilot program – the program will now provide $20 million of federal and provincial funding over 2 years and 22 communities will participate in the pilot program.
The Portable Housing Benefit pilot program will remain focused on survivors of domestic violence and is intended to provide ongoing assistance to approximately 1,000 survivors of domestic violence each year. Communities participating in the pilot program will have the flexibility to design the Portable Housing Benefit in a way that best meets their needs. Depending on the outcomes, at the end of the 2-year pilot the Province will consider extending the Portable Housing Benefit to other communities.
FRPO continues to encourage the government to fully adopt the Portable Housing Benefit program to provide assistance to all low-income Ontario families who require assistance to secure housing they can afford.
The 22 communities that have been identified as part of the initial pilot program include:
|
Brantford |
$1,056,000 |
|
Ottawa |
$3,837,026 |
|
Chatham-Kent |
$150,000 |
|
Peel |
$1,001,000 |
|
Cornwall |
$1,642,091 |
|
Prescott and Russell |
$240,000 |
|
Halton |
$876,000 |
|
Renfrew/Lanark |
$448,470 |
|
Hamilton |
$1,200,000 |
|
Sault Ste. Marie |
$420,000 |
|
Kenora |
$924,000 |
|
Stratford |
$353,600 |
|
Kingston |
$330,000 |
|
Thunder Bay |
$633,600 |
|
Lambton |
$103,950 |
|
Toronto |
$3,985,575 |
|
London |
$1,500,000 |
|
Waterloo |
$148,549 |
|
Niagara |
$652,476 |
|
Wellington |
$459,800 |
|
Norfolk |
$237,600 |
|
Windsor |
$406,800 |
The Ontario government news release and backgrounder provide additional information.
For more information, contact:
Kristina Lauesen, Vice President, Government & Industry Relations, 416-385-1100 x21
