The City of Stratford Social Services Department is the provincially designated Consolidated Municipal Service Manager (CMSM or ‘Service Manager’) responsible for administering social services in Stratford, Perth County, and St. Marys. This includes programs and services to help residents access housing options that are affordable and meet their needs, situations, and choice.
| Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) Housing |
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RGI housing is a unit for which tenants pay no more than 30% of their household income on rent. Household income must be below Household Income Limits set by the province. |
| Housing Stability Bank (the program formerly known as CHPI) | ||||||||||
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The Housing Stability Bank (the program formerly known as CHPI) provides one-time housing-related financial support to help households experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness find and keep their housing. This includes assistance with:
EligibilityEligibility is based on the household income limits listed below, which vary depending on the size of the household. Qualifying households can access each type of assistance once in a 12-month period.
*Moving Costs/Furniture are only available once every 24 months
To applyComplete the Application Form and return to the Social Services Department.
Recipients of Ontario Works should speak to their caseworker before applying.In person:City Hall Annex Building 82 Erie Street, Stratford First Floor Reception
Mail:City Hall Annex Building 82 Erie Street Stratford, ON N5A 2M4 Email: socialsrv@stratford.ca Fax: 519-273-7191 Please call 519-271-3773 or 1-800-669-2948 for more information. |
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Rent Support Programs |
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Rent supports are government-funded payments (also called subsidies or benefits) that bridge the gap between what a household can afford to pay and what the actual cost of housing is. Depending on the program, type of payment, and source of funding, these payments can be used for both private market and community housing units.
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| Affordable Rental Housing | ||||
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This area has a number of options for rental housing that costs less than units in the private market.
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| Permanent Supportive Housing | ||
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Permanent Supportive (or Supported) Housing (PSH) combines housing assistance with wraparound support services to population groups that are particularly vulnerable to housing instability such as those experiencing homelessness, and those with physical or mental health concerns, developmental disabilities, or substance use. PSH programs are often delivered in a Housing First framework, the underlying principle of which is that people are better able to move forward with their lives if they are first housed.
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| Affordable Homeownership | ||||||||||
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The Affordable Homeownership Loan Program provides qualified low to moderate income households with down payment assistance loans of up to 5% of the purchase price of a home. EligibilityTo be eligible, applicants must:
Stay within the maximum purchase price of a house which is outlined in the Application Overview.
To apply
In person:City Hall Annex Building 82 Erie Street, Stratford First Floor Reception
Mail:City Hall Annex Building 82 Erie Street Stratford, ON N5A 2M4 Email: socialsrv@stratford.ca Fax: 519-273-7191 Please call 519-271-3773 or 1-800-669-2948 for more information.
Applications can be submitted at any time and will be reviewed Applications will be reviewed, and qualification determined on an as submitted basis. Qualification for the program does not guarantee allocation of funding to the application. Preference will be given chronologically to complete and eligible applications. |
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Plans, Directives, and Forms |
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The City of Stratford is also responsible for developing strategies, plans, and directives to improve housing outcomes for individuals and families in the Service Manager area.
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