Program Information
The Housing Emergency Fund helps ODSP & OW recipients and People with Low Income maintain their housing.
People with low income can receive help with utility & rent arrears.
The Housing Emergency Fund helps ODSP & OW recipients and People with Low Income maintain their housing.
People with low income can receive help with utility & rent arrears.
Housing Emergency Fund - Low Income
Phone: (905) 526-8100
Fax: (905) 528-1448
E-Mail: info@housinghelpcentre.ca
Fax: (905) 528-1448
E-Mail: info@housinghelpcentre.ca
119 Main Street East
Hamilton, Ontario
L8N 3Z3
Hamilton, Ontario
L8N 3Z3
How to Apply
People on Low Income can apply through the Hamilton Housing Help Centre Via the following methods:
1. Online: Please email fsp@housinghelpcentre.ca for an application. Please specify what you are
looking for assistance with and your source of income.
2. Mail-in/Fax-in: You can mail or fax in a completed application to the Housing Help Centre.
Address: 119 Main St. East, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3Z3
Fax: (905) 393-8182
The application can be downloaded HERE.
3. Phone: Call the Housing Help Centre for help accessing the application or if you have questions
regarding how to complete it. Call (905) 526-8100
4. In-person: Complete the application in-person with a Financial Support Housing Worker at the Housing
Help Centre.
Address: 119 Main St. East, Hamilton, Ontario L8N 3Z3
Please Note:
• We request you call before coming to the Housing Help Centre.
• In order for a Financial Support Housing Worker to complete the application process, we request you
bring all the proper documentation.
• We request that only one person per household is allowed to come to the Housing Help Centre. If you
need accommodation, please call (905) 526-8100.
Rent Arrears
Step 1: Please email fsp@housinghelpcentre.ca for an application.
Step 2: Please include proof of income for the past 30 days (pay stubs, bank statements, employment
letter). *Please note proof of income must have your name on it*
Step 3: Please provide us with a copy of your N4 notice/Tenant Ledger from within the last 30 days.
Step 4: Please mail, email or fax all these documents back to us.
* To qualify for the assistance, you must meet the following criteria*
• You must be under the Low-income cut off.
• Your housing must be sustainable. This means that your monthly income needs to be more than your
monthly expenses plus costs for general daily expenses.
• Your landlord must be willing to work with you if your arrears exceed what we can assist with. This
means that the landlord agrees not to proceed with eviction as long as you maintain your payment plan
with them.
Please be aware we only keep documentation for 30 days. If we do not receive all required documents
and/or required information within those 30 days, the application will be withdrawn. All documentation will
become invalid.
Utility Arrears
Step 1: Please email fsp@housinghelpcentre.ca for an application.
Step 2: Please include proof of income for the past 30 days (pay stubs, bank statements, employment
letter). *Please note proof of income must have your name on it*
Step 3: Please provide us with a copy of your heat or hydro notice.
Step 4: Please mail, email or fax all these documents back to us.
** All existing grants available must be exhausted (LEAP, EAP, etc.)
Please be aware we only keep documentation for 30 days. If we do not receive all required documents
and/or required information within those 30 days, the application will be withdrawn. All documentation will
become invalid.
Housing Stability Appeal
If a client is dissatisfied with the outcome, he/she may appeal directly to the Executive Director or designate to have his/her application reviewed. Within seven (7) days, a reassessment will determine if the client meets the eligibility requirements according to the City of Hamilton rules. Appeals can only be granted if the individual meets eligibility criteria. The applicant will be contacted by Hamilton Housing Help Centre with a written outcome of the result of the appeal including the reason for the outcome.
Ontario Works Recipients
OW recipients apply through their case manager.
If a client is dissatisfied with the outcome, he/she may appeal directly to the Executive Director or designate to have his/her application reviewed. Within seven (7) days, a reassessment will determine if the client meets the eligibility requirements according to the City of Hamilton rules. Appeals can only be granted if the individual meets eligibility criteria. The applicant will be contacted by Hamilton Housing Help Centre with a written outcome of the result of the appeal including the reason for the outcome.
Ontario Works Recipients
OW recipients apply through their case manager.
Program Criteria
People with low income must fall under what’s called the “Low Income Measure (LIM) thresholds”. Please see the chart below.
Approved applicants are eligible for a maximum amount of money in a 24-month period.
The HSB will not be given to anyone who is setting up a residence outside of Hamilton.
HSB is NOT a mandatory benefit.
People with low income must fall under what’s called the “Low Income Measure (LIM) thresholds”. Please see the chart below.
Approved applicants are eligible for a maximum amount of money in a 24-month period.
The HSB will not be given to anyone who is setting up a residence outside of Hamilton.
HSB is NOT a mandatory benefit.
Please Note:
The Low-Income Measure is as follows:
We will contact you once we received your application.
We will also contact you to inform you if you have been approved or denied.
If approved, payment will take approximately 15 business days.
To contact us directly please email FSP@housinghelpcentre.ca or call us at
(905) 526-8100
The Low-Income Measure is as follows:
We will contact you once we received your application.
We will also contact you to inform you if you have been approved or denied.
If approved, payment will take approximately 15 business days.
To contact us directly please email FSP@housinghelpcentre.ca or call us at
(905) 526-8100
| Number of Household Members | Household Income - All Members (2024) |
| 1 person | $0 - $38,000 |
| 2 persons | $38,001 - $54,000 |
| 3-4 persons | $54,001 - $65,000 |
| 5+ persons | $65,001 - $71,000 |