Canada Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB)
In April 2020, the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario introduced the Canada Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB) to increase the affordability of rental housing for qualifying individuals and households. COHB is an income-tested, portable housing benefit paid directly to eligible households.
This new housing allowance program provided an alternative to waiting for rent-geared-to-income (RGI) housing to over 200 eligible households in Windsor and Essex County.
NEW COHB FUNDING HAS RECENTLY BEEN ANNOUNCED
WHAT IS THE COHB PROGRAM?
The COHB program is designed to increase the affordability of rental housing by providing an income-tested, portable housing benefit that is paid directly to eligible households. You can use the benefit amount to help pay your rent anywhere in Ontario. The amount of COHB you receive is not based on the amount of rent you pay, but on an assessment of your household’s total earnings and the average market rent amounts in the area where you live.
The COHB is designed to support vulnerable households and is an alternative to RGI. Your household cannot receive both RGI and the COHB at the same time. But unlike RGI, you do not have to live in social housing to receive the COHB.
YOU OR YOUR HOUSEHOLD MAY BE ELIGIBLE IF YOU MEET THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA
Each individual or household must be on or eligible to be on the social housing wait list, and The household is in housing need and living in community housing.
Please review the COHB Information Sheet (PDF) for further detail.
Steps for applying:
1. VERIFY
Verify you or your household has an eligible application with the Central Housing Registry- Windsor Essex County (CHR)
OR
2. START
Start the application process if you do not have an eligible CHR Application
3. CONTACT
The Central Housing Registry – Windsor Essex County (CHR)
2470 Dougal Avenue Unit 6
Email: chrwec@wechc.com
Phone: 519-254-6994
4. REFERRAL
CHR will refer you to the Housing Benefit Team at Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation (CHC) upon confirmation of an eligible application with CHR.
The Housing Benefit Team at Windsor Essex Community Housing Corporation (CHC) can assist you in completing a COHB Application. All COHB Applications must be completed with the assistance of designated CHC staff.
CHC Housing Benefit Team:
By Email: housingbenefit@wechc.com
By Phone: 519-776-4631 x 4005
Customer Service Inquiry Form