SOCIAL HOUSING FAQS

 
How do I apply?

Elgin and St. Thomas Housing Corporation hosts the Co-ordinated Access Centre where applications for most subsidized housing projects are processed.

Applicants may choose from a list of social housing providers in St. Thomas and Elgin County. A few housing providers accept applications directly. Please see our list of Social Housing Providers for more information.

Applicants are offered housing on a first-come first-served basis, with the exception of Special Priority Applicants, (victims of family violence), who are given priority on the waiting list. Eligible applicants are put on a Centralized Waiting List.

Who is eligible for subsidized housing?

To be considered eligible for rent-geared-to-income housing, you must be:

Where do I get an application form?

Our application for is available online or at the following locations:

• The Ontario Works office at 423 Talbot St., St. Thomas
• Elgin and St. Thomas Housing Corporation office at 9 Princess Avenue, Unit 5, in St. Thomas
• Most support agencies in St. Thomas (CCAC, Elgin Association for Community Living, etc.)
• Most housing providers (see our list of Social Housing Providers)

What else do I need to provide with my application form?

In addition to the completed form, please include:

• Copies of birth certificates of all members of the household or application for status as a permanent resident or claim for refugee protection
• Verification of all income sources (most recent pay stubs, most recent Income Tax Notice of Assessment or income tax return, etc.)
• Other documentation such as court orders for custody, support, or child visitation arrangements.

 Where do I submit my application form?

You can submit your completed form and documentation by mail, fax or in person to:

Elgin St. Thomas Co-ordinated Access Centre
c/o Elgin and St. Thomas Housing Corporation
9 Princess Avenue, Unit 5
St. Thomas, ON
N5R 3V3

If submitting in person, please note our office hours are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, (closed from noon to 1 p.m. for lunch).

Summer hours, effective June, July, and August are Monday to Thursday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, (closed from noon to 1 p.m. for lunch), and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

You may fax the application form and supporting documentation to (519) 633-8035.

Who can I call for help with my application?

What happens after I submit my appliction?

If your application is complete and all the documentation has been provided, your name will go on the waiting list for the housing providers you have selected based on the date your application was received.

Once you reach the top of that housing provider's waiting list, the housing provider will contact you directly as soon as a unit becomes available.

What is Special Priority Status?

Special Priority Status is given to victims of family violence; these applicants are given priority at the top of the waiting list.

The intent of the SP status is to make it easier for an applicant to enter affordable, subsidized housing quickly, right after leaving the abusive relationship, to prevent her or him from having to return to the abusive household because affordable housing cannot be found.Normally, Special Priority status is granted when a request is submitted within three months after an applicant ceased to live together with the abuser.

A record of the abuse must be verified by a doctor, social worker, police, shelter worker, or other professional.

Are there any local priorities on the waiting list?

There is one local priority for tenants or co-op members who are already living with a social housing provider and who are paying full market rent.

This local priority permits a tenant who is in sudden financial need due to job loss, lay-off, or death of a spouse to apply for a subsidy, with their application backdated to the date they moved into their present residence.