TORONTO RENT BANK PROGRAM
The Toronto Rent Bank Program is offering grants to low-income households facing eviction due to short-term financial difficulties.
Eligibility:
- You are living in Toronto
- Your household is within low-income guidelines and is not in receipt of Social Assistance*
- You are paying market rent
- You can satisfy all other program requirements
*Social assistance clients can contact their OW or ODSP office to ask about the Housing Stabilization Fund
Contact info:
Contact Phone Number: 416-397-RENT (7368)
Mon-Fri: 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Steps to Apply
Partner Agencies
Toronto Rent Bank is a successful collaboration between Neighbourhood Information Post (NIP) and our partner agencies: Agincourt Community Services Association, Albion Neighbourhood Services, COSTI Immigrant Services, East York East Toronto Housing Help, The Housing Help Centre, TNO – The Neighbourhood Organization, Unison Health and Community Services, West Toronto Community Legal Service.
Need Help? These questions might help.
We currently offer Rent Bank services in the following languages in addition to English: Arabic, Cantonese, French, Mandarin, Italian, Serbian, Spanish and Tamil.
The Toronto Rent Bank covers rental arrears, and first and last month’s rent. You can apply to the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) at 416-924-2543 or Emergency Energy Fund (EEF) at 647-727-8988 if you are behind with your gas and electricity bills.
We require a minimum of 5 business days to process an application. In urgent situations, we may be able to process an application within a shorter time provided the applicant has all the documentation ready.
Currently, applicants can apply once every 12 months.
You need to be on the lease as a lease holder or an occupant to qualify. You can still apply to the Toronto Rent Bank Program and our intake worker will work with you to find a way to address the situation with your landlord.
Our goal is to prevent eviction and if necessary, rent bank workers can mediate between you and your landlord throughout the process. In general, landlords are happy to have the Rent Bank intervene as it saves them time and efforts that they may have to put into eviction proceedings. In fact, many landlords encourage their tenants to seek Rent Bank assistance.
We can assist only if you are currently in rental arrears.
This will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Yes. You can contact with our Repayment Review Worker to follow-up on any questions or concerns about your repayments.
You can apply to the Toronto Rent Bank Program and our intake worker will work with you to find a way to address the situation.
Yes. However, if you are moving from Toronto to another municipality, you do not qualify for rental deposit program.
Yes, your personal information will be kept confidential. We require your consent to share your information with any other third party, including your landlord.
There are many other resources in Toronto that support low-income tenants. Please call 211 or 311 to get more information on other resources that can assist you.
If you are not able to cover the balance of your rental arrears, our intake worker will help negotiate a repayment plan with your landlord for the balance of our arrears.
Rent Bank cheques are payable to your landlord.