Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB)

The Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB) is a rent supplement funded by the federal and provincial governments that helps eligible low-income households pay for housing in the private rental market.

The benefit is tied to the household rather than a specific housing unit and can be used anywhere in Ontario. Benefit amounts are calculated based on factors including household income, household size, and local market rents.

For most households, COHB pays the difference between 30% of the household’s income and the average market rent in the area. For households receiving social assistance, COHB generally pays the difference between the household’s shelter allowance and its rent and utility costs.

Can I apply for COHB?

In London, COHB is a referral-based program and is not open for direct applications from the public. Households cannot apply directly or ask the City of London to refer them for the benefit.

Participating community agencies identify households for referral based on provincial program requirements, local housing priorities, and available program capacity. The agencies provide the names of referred households to the City of London.

The City of London reviews each referral to confirm that the household meets eligibility requirements.

Participating referral agencies include organizations delivering community housing, homelessness, Indigenous, newcomer, youth, disability, senior-serving, and violence prevention programs. 

If a participating community agency identifies you for a possible COHB referral, the agency will contact you directly.

Who is considered for COHB?

Provincial guidelines identify several priority groups for the program, including:

• Survivors of domestic violence or human trafficking
• People at risk of or experiencing homelessness
• Indigenous persons
• Seniors
• Persons with disabilities
• Young adults (including those leaving the child welfare system)

COHB has limited annual program capacity. Being part of a priority group does not guarantee that a household will be referred for or receive a COHB benefit.

What are the eligibility requirements?

To qualify, households must meet all provincial eligibility requirements, including:

• Each household member must be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, refugee, or refugee claimant
• The household must rent their home, and must permanently live in Ontario
• The household’s annual income must be below the household income limits (listed below).
• The household must be on, or eligible for, a community housing waitlist and meet the same eligibility requirements as applicants for Rent-Geared-to-Income housing.
• The household must not already receive Rent-Geared-to-Income assistance or another housing benefit, except for the shelter portion of Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program benefits.
• The household must not own a livable home. If applicable, the household must move out within 90 days of eligibility and sell the home within 12 months.
• No member of the household has a deportation order, departure or exclusion order under the Immigration Act
• The household must have no outstanding rent arrears, unless they are participating in a repayment agreement that is in good standing.
• The household must have the ability to meet ongoing program requirements, including annual tax filing and reporting changes to income, rent, or household information to the Ministry of Finance
• The household must agree to be removed from the Community Housing Waitlist if a COHB benefit is accepted

Meeting the provincial eligibility requirements does not mean that a household will be referred for or receive COHB. Households must first be identified for referral by a participating community agency. 

Household income limits

For households in the City of London, Middlesex Centre and Thames Centre, the current maximum household income limits are:

How do community agencies participate in the COHB process?

Only community agencies participating in the established COHB referral process can identify and refer households.

Participating agencies receive information from the City of London about referral requirements, program capacity and timelines. The agencies identify households for referral based on provincial program requirements, local housing priorities and available program capacity.

Community agencies and housing support providers that are not participating in the referral process cannot submit COHB applications or referrals on behalf of clients.

Due to limited annual program capacity, not all households that meet the provincial eligibility requirements will be referred for or receive a benefit.

What happens after a household is referred for COHB?

Once a household has been identified for referral by a participating community agency, the City of London reviews the referral to confirm that the household meets eligibility requirements.

If the requirements are met, the household will be invited to submit a COHB application. The application is reviewed locally and then sent to the Province of Ontario’s Ministry of Finance, which makes the final decision on eligibility.

Ministry of Finance processing times may vary, but applications are typically processed within six to eight weeks.

If approved, monthly payments are issued directly to the household, or, if the household chooses, to its landlord.

Once a household is approved, ongoing program management is handled by the Province through ServiceOntario and the Ministry of Finance.

Questions about the status of a submitted COHB application should be directed to the Ministry of Finance at 1-888-544-5101 or 1-800-263-7776 (TTY).

Can COHB help with first and last month's rent?

Households currently receiving COHB may be eligible to receive assistance with first and last month’s rent when moving to a new rental unit.

This assistance is available once per household during participation in the COHB program.

Current COHB recipients who are planning to move and have not previously received this benefit can contact the City of London at COHB@london.ca for more information.

How do annual reviews and renewals work?

COHB is administered by the Province of Ontario through the Ministry of Finance. Eligibility is reviewed annually.

Annual renewal packages are issued each spring and must be completed by the deadline identified by the Province. Households are responsible for responding to requests and correspondence from the Ministry of Finance related to their benefit.

Households that do not complete their annual renewal requirements may lose eligibility for the program and may not be eligible for reinstatement.

Following the annual review, benefit amounts may increase or decrease based on changes to household income, household size, rent, or place of residence.

The City of London is not involved in annual reviews, renewal decisions, extensions or benefit calculations after a household has been approved for COHB.

Questions about annual reviews, renewals, payment amounts or changes to your file should be directed to the Ministry of Finance at 1-888-544-5101 or 1-800-263-7776 (TTY).

How long can I receive COHB?

COHB is currently funded until 2029. There is no guarantee that funding will continue after that date.

Households may continue receiving the benefit while funding remains available, as long as they continue to meet provincial eligibility and renewal requirements.