I need help, I am unable to pay rent

Did you know you can get grants and/or loans from Rent Banks across major cities of Ontario to assist with rent costs?

Author: Openroom HQ

Published: Tuesday, August 1, 2023 | Updated: Tuesday, August 1, 2023

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The Outrageous Inflation Crisis

The annual inflation rate is 4.560% as of August 2023 (Reference: Inflation Calculator), and this is causing prices to increase across the board for basic necessities such as groceries, fuel, and more.

(Ugh, is the government doing anything about it?! ) 😥

Due to the rising costs of nearly everything, there may be times when you are struggling to make rent payments towards rent in a particular month.

The good news is that the government does have programs in place!

Rent Banks in major cities across Ontario that grants and/or loans for low-income individuals and families financial assistance with rent (e.g. rent, electricity, heating, deposits, moving costs). The various Rent Banks will differ in their eligibility, coverage, and dispersement amounts.

Getting an N4 - Notice to Terminate Tenancy Due to Non-Payment of Rent is never a pleasant experience. First, take a deep breath.

Know that when you are given the N4 Notice, you (as the Tenant) have 14 days to make the payment before the Landlord files with the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB). This is when a little panic may set in. When a filing occurs, you will need to spend time, energy, and/or money to counter the potential eviction.

(Seriously, ain't nobody have time for that!)

To prevent that from happening, there are government resources available to you. We tried compiling a list of Rent Banks available across Ontario to get you started.

Get Financial Help From Rent Banks or Housing Stability Benefits

Example: The Toronto Rent Bank

The Toronto Rent Bank grants rental arrears or rental deposits for the minimum of either $4,000 or the equivalent of 3 months' rent. There are different eligibility requirements such as your family size and your household income.

The processing time is about 5 business days and in urgent cases, it can be expedited so make sure you don’t wait to apply. The Toronto Rent Bank operates in 11 languages from Mandarin to Spanish.

FYI: There are some financial assistance components that do not apply such as utility arrears. For this, you can apply to the Emergency Energy Fund (EEF) at 416-397-7368 or the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) at 416-924-2543.

Rent Banks in Municipalities and Contact Info

We encourage you to visit your municipal websites for details of the Rent Bank and application process. Here are a few municipalities and their websites.

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