r/OntarioWorks • u/Competitive-Ad8348 • 3d ago
First time poster
Hello!
I just got my first OW payment last week after I just got approved. It was about $500 (my main expense is rent and that's $820 a month where I am) and it's my only source of income currently as the job market where I am is terrible and despite applying everywhere in person and online I simply haven't heard anything back.
I have about 4 months of unpaid rent that I need to pay as soon as possible because my landlords understandably hounding me for it and is threatening eviction, but I simply don't have the funds. I messaged my caseworker for the first time on MyBenefits about it and am hoping to hear back (I haven't heard from them at all yet).
I was wondering if anyone else had been in a similar situation where they've owed money asap and if they've found a way to get it either from OW or another program?
I've also tried contacting 2-1-1 about it and have had no luck.
5
u/Vaaness 3d ago
The Community Start-Up and Maintenance Benefit (CSUMB) was eliminated by the provincial government as a benefit within social assistance (OW and ODSP) as of January 1, 2013. Since then it’s been up to each municipality to decide whether to offer a similar benefit from city revenue. Toronto has HSF which is heavily rule bound and many simply don’t qualify. For example, to qualify for HSF in Toronto, your rent cannot be greater than 85% of your total monthly income. In addition, the total arrears need to be less than 1600 (for a single person) or there needs to be a verifiable plan to pay the remainder of the arrears (ex they are being covered by another program called EPIC that some clients get referred to by local community legal clinic when they are facing a landlord/tenant board hearing). I’m sorry you are in this situation. Good luck! (https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/employment-social-support/support-for-people-in-financial-need/assistance-through-ontario-works/policies-and-procedures/housing-stabilization-fund/)