Social services committee recommends bolstering rent supplement program

GUELPH – The number of new households in Wellington County and Guelph getting help to pay rent could return to 2025 monthly averages after recently being cut to save money in this year’s budget.

At a Jan. 14 county-city social services committee meeting Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie proposed returning a monthly cap to 20 households, up from the current 10.

It was reduced last fall as the county faced ballooning costs to supplement rent payments for low-income families in the county and Guelph. 

The county-run Housing Stability Rent Support program provides low-income households with a supplement to cover a private, market-rate rental based on their income.

Since 2023, the cost of supplementing rent through the program has increased from $594,100 to $1.5 million.

In the first eight months of 2025 alone, rent supplements reached $1.25 million.

Across the county and Guelph, 321  households were accessing supports as of September, according to the county.

Six advocacy groups, alarmed by the 2025 reductions, delegated to council, in addition to six written submissions, urging the committee to undo the reduction.

“Housing insecurity is increasing, and it is affecting people of all ages, from teenagers to seniors, families and individuals,” Guelph Community Health Centre CEO Melissa Kwiatkowski told the committee. 

“These programs are not optional.”

Speaking to the motivation behind his motion, Guthrie said homelessness is worsening.

“It’s 50% higher since 2021. Freaking brutal, and you can quote me on that. Freaking brutal,” Guthrie said.

“Nearly 85,000 Ontarians are known to be homeless in 2025, which is now an increase of eight per cent in just one year,” the mayor added.

According to a county report, the number of homeless in the city and county rose to 232 people as of October 2025, up by 18 per cent from the 196 recorded in December 2024.

The committee carried Guthrie’s motion amending the social services budget, to applause from the gallery. 

“The rent supplement is a good program. It gives people flexibility,” Warden Chris White said.

The committee’s decision has yet to go to county council for approval, but should it pass, 16 more households from the city and four in the county could be added each month, for a potential total of 240 new households in 2026.

County councillor Mary Lloyd said the number of families receiving supports fluctuates depending on need.

County treasurer Ken DeHart said the committee’s decision could affect a county tax increase of 3.5% proposed to council earlier this month.

The county had previously proposed a $3-million budget to fund the supplement program, including $550,000 from federal funding, $2.1 million from the city, and $400,000 from the county. 

The county’s levy could increase by 0.1 per cent, according to DeHart.

County staff are updating spending forecasts ahead of the budget’s Jan. 29 return to council.