WEB ONLY: Rent bank will aid low income families

The province is assisting low-income families that have missed a rent payment to avoid eviction in Guelph and Well­ington County.

Under the provincial rent bank program, a tenant who is facing eviction for non-payment of rent can apply to the local rent bank to receive financial assistance. If a ten­ant’s application is approved, the outstanding rent is paid directly to the landlord on behalf of the tenant.

This year, the province is providing $5-million to rent banks across the province, with $68,204 being allocated to Guelph and Wellington County.

As part of its poverty reduc­tion strategy, the province an­nounced stabilized funding for the rent bank program with a dedicated

– “Short-term arrears in rent payment is the most common reason tenants with lower in­comes lose their homes and are forced into shelters,” said Guelph MPP Liz Sandals.

This new funding for the rent bank in Guelph and Well­ington County ensures we can continue to help low-income tenants avoid eviction for non-payment of rent due to an unforeseen crisis.”   

The province established the provincial rent bank pro­gram in 2004. To date, it has prevented more than 18,700 low-income households from being evicted due to a missed rent payment.

By 2008, the province had spend $23.8-million on the program.

Typically, tenants can apply for financial assistance from a rent bank no more than once in two years, and receive maxi­mum assistance of two months’ rental arrears.

 

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