The Rent Bank program is available to low income tenants who, due to emergency or unforeseen circumstances, are in short-term arrears and facing eviction. The intent of the program is to help tenants sustain their accommodation.

Eligibility Criteria:

1.  The applicant must:

• Be a resident of the recipient's Service Manager area and meet requirements for status in Canada
• Have an income that is not from Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program.
• Be in immediate danger of losing his or her residence due to unpaid rent N4/mediated agreement
• Not be receiving Rent-Geared-To-Income assistance
• Be at the residence for a minimum of one year
• Have household income below the household income limits as set by the Ministry from time to time

2.  Program Funding for each approved applicant shall not exceed two times the average market rent for the recipient's Service Manager area as set by the Ministry from time to time.

3.  Assistance may only be issued once every two years.

4.  Funding shall only be used for payment of rent arrears.

Application for the Rent Bank can be made by calling 519-255-5200 ext. 5289.  For more information on this service please visit the Provincial Rent Bank website.

Energy Related Programs

Keep the Heat:

Keep the Heat is an emergency assistance program which provides funding for heat and energy for those who are experiencing financial difficulties and are in receipt of a notice of termination of heating utilities. 

In addition, this program offers workshops to educate consumers on how to conserve and better use energy within their household.

Windsor Application Sites:

• Can-Am Native Non-Profit Homes
  180 Tecumseh Road East
  519-977-7782
• Housing Information Services
  3450 Ypres Avenue, Suite 200
  519-254-4824
• Unemployed Help Centre
  6955 Cantelon Drive
  519-944-4900

County Application Sites:

• Amherstburg Community Services
  519-736-5471
• Lakeshore Community Services
  519-728-1435
• South Essex Community Council
  519-326-8629

For more information, see the Keep the Heat entry in the Windsor-Essex CIOC Database.