Household Income Limits (H-24-01)

Date: January 1, 2024

• 1 (a) – Local Housing Corporation
• 2 (a) and 2 (b) – Rent Supplement Programs
• 6 (a) – Non-Profit Program
• 6 (b) – Non-Profit Co-Op Program

Directives archived and replaced with this directive

Directive H-23-01, Household Income Limits

Background

The Housing Services Act, 2011, section 42 (2) requires Service Mangers to make local eligibility rules on prescribed matters set out in Ontario Regulation 367/11, sections 32.3-41.

Ontario Regulation 367/11, section 32.4 is a prescribed matter related to maximum household income allowed by households to be eligible for Rent-Geared-to-Income Assistance. It states the local eligibility rule must include the following five points listed below:

• The household's total income is the net income of all the household members, excluding members who are in full-time attendance at a recognized educational institution.
• The net income of each member of a household is based upon on net income (i.e., line 23600) as indicated on the most recent notice of assessment issued under the Income Tax Act (Canada) or, if no notice of assessment has been issued, the amount that would appear on the net income line, less any Registered Disability Savings Plan income and plus any Registered Disability Savings Plan amounts repaid during that same taxation year.
• The maximum household income may be different for units of different types, sizes, and location.
• The maximum household income must be at least the Household Income Limits prescribed under Ontario Regulation 370/11.
• That maximum household income shall only apply when determining whether a household is applying or waiting for rent-geared-to-income assistance, and not in determining continued eligibility for rent-geared-to-income. 

The Service Manager is required to report statistical data related to Rent-Geared-to-Income households with income below the Household Income Limits and High Needs income annually to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Action to be taken

The Social Housing Registry shall use the prescribed Household Income Limits in determining a household’s eligibility to be placed on the Centralized Waiting List and Housing Providers shall use the prescribed Household Income Limits to confirm eligibility for Rent-Geared-to-Income units at initial occupancy.

Housing Providers shall not consider Household Income Limits as an eligibility requirement for continued Rent-Geared-to-Income assistance, but rather must follow Directive H-20-05, Eligibility Rules for Rent-Geared-to-Income.

Housing Providers shall use the prescribed Household Income Limits and prescribed High Needs income levels for statistical purposes only as required by the Service Manager to report in the report to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.

Ontario Regulation 370/11 Schedule 1 High Needs Households, the maximum annual household income for High Needs Housing is listed by unit type below.

• Bachelor unit – seventeen thousand seven hundred dollars ($17,700)
• One bedroom unit – twenty-three thousand one hundred dollars ($23,100)
• Two bedroom unit – twenty-seven thousand nine hundred dollars ($27,900)
• Three bedroom unit – thirty-one thousand five hundred dollars ($31,500)
• Four bedroom unit or larger – thirty-six thousand six hundred dollars ($36,600)

Ontario Regulation 370/11 Schedule 2 Household Income Limits, the maximum annual household income for Household Income Limits is listed by unit type below.

• Bachelor unit – twenty-nine thousand five hundred dollars ($29,500)
• One bedroom unit – thirty-eight thousand five hundred dollars ($38,500)
• Two bedroom unit – forty-six thousand five hundred dollars ($46,500)
• Three bedroom unit – fifty-two thousand five hundred dollars ($52,500)
• Four bedroom unit or larger – sixty-one thousand dollars ($61,000)

Reference

• Housing Services Act, 2011, section 40 – Service Levels, Rent-Geared-to-Income
• Housing Services Act, 2011, section 42 – Eligibility Rules
• Ontario Regulation 367/11, section 32.4 – Local rule – Maximum Household Income
• Ontario Regulation 370/11, Schedule 1 – High Needs Households
• Ontario Regulation 370/11, Schedule 2 – Household Income Limits

Ruth Noordegraaf
Director, Housing & Social Services Department

The following individuals have received a copy of this Directive:

• Jennifer Campbell, Commissioner, Community Services
• Jenna Morley, Director, Legal Services & City Solicitor
• Amy Gibson, Manager, Housing & Homelessness, Housing & Social Services Dept.
• Mitchell Grange, Policy Manager, Housing & Social Services Dept.
• Housing Programs Administrators, Housing & Social Services Dept.
• Jannette Amini, Manager of Legislative Services / Clerk, County of Frontenac

If you have any questions, please contact a Housing Programs Administrator, Housing and Social Services Department.