Housing Emergency Fund Information Sheet
The Housing Emergency Fund (HEF) is a program to support housing sustainability and eviction
prevention. It helps to cover the costs associated with establishing a new residence or to assist you to
remain in your current housing, within the City of Hamilton.
Based on your benefit unit composition (household size) for social assistance (OW/ODSP) or as a Low-
Income Household and determination of eligibility, HEF is available up to a maximum payment in a 2-
year period (24 months):
Benefit Unit/Household Size Maximum Payment
Single $3,000
Couple $4,000
Family (3 people) $5,000
Family (4 people) $6,000
Family (5+ people) $7,000
HEF is only available if:
• you meet the following eligibility criteria:
o accommodation costs do not exceed 95% of your household income
o establishing or remaining in housing within the City of Hamilton
o your circumstances meet a situation outlined in the application (i.e., being evicted, have a
disconnection notice for utilities, establishing new or moving to more affordable housing)
• have not received the maximum benefit amount for HEF or a similar housing benefit in the last
24 months (i.e., Housing Stability Benefit (HSB), Rent Ready, etc.)
HEF may be issued to you or on your behalf to a third party (i.e. a landlord or utility company).
Your HEF request form will be reviewed to determine if you meet the criteria and are eligible for the
Housing Emergency Fund. You will be notified in writing regarding the decision.
The most up-to-date information about the HEF program, including the application form, is available
online via the City of Hamilton Housing Emergency Fund website
(www.hamilton.ca/HousingEmergencyFund).
June 2024
Form Reset
Housing Emergency Fund Application
Date:________________________
03-Jul-2024
Application ID:________________________
I AM REQUESTING THE HOUSING EMERGENCY FUND TO HELP ME (check one)
Establish new housing (complete 1, 2, 3A or 3B, 3C)
Remain in existing housing (complete 1, 2, 4A or 4B, 4C)
1. PLEASE PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION
First Name: Last Name:
Phone Number: Date of Birth: DD / MMM / YYYY
Address: Street Address City Postal Code Email:
Are you staying in a shelter? NO YES If yes, which shelter: Not Applicable
Current income source: Low Income ODSP OW SAMS ID#
MONTHLY INCOME AMOUNT MONTHLY EXPENSES AMOUNT
OW/ODSP $ Rent $
Child Tax Benefit $ Hydro $
Spousal/Child Support $ Gas $
Employment Income $ Other: $
Other: $
Do you receive a Housing Allowance/COHB? NO YES, monthly amount $
Number of people in household: 1 #
Number of people in household who identify as the following groups:
Homeless following
Youth Indigenous Chronically Homeless transition from a
provincial institution
Persons whose
accommodation
immediately prior to
Persons who are applying for this program
Young people under the
Persons who identify as currently homeless who was in correction facilities
age of 25 who are living
First Nation, Métis, or have been homeless for 6 (jail, prison), in in-patient
independently of parents
Inuit months or more in the healthcare (hospital,
or caregivers
past year rehab) or in
accommodation provided
under the child welfare
system
0 # 0 # 0 # 0 #
Do you prefer to be supported by an Indigenous-led program? NO PREFERENCE YES NO
2. Declaration, Certification and Consent
By acknowledging this form, I certify that all information provided is true and verification has been provided,
when available. I hereby consent to the collection and disclosure of my personal information for the
purposes of administering, verifying, monitoring, and evaluating the Housing Emergency Fund Program. I
understand that staff from the City of Hamilton may contact me for the purposes of conducting a follow up
assessment.
Yes, I have read the declaration above and acknowledge that the
information provided is true and I consent to collection and disclosure Date:
of my personal information and contact from the City of Hamilton.
No, I have not received the maximum benefit amount for HEF or a
similar housing benefit in the last 24 months.
Your HEF application will be reviewed to determine if you meet the criteria and are eligible for the
Housing Emergency Fund. You will be notified in writing regarding the decision.
June 2024
3. ESTABLISHING NEW HOUSING *Application must be submitted within one month of your
move*
A. I am homeless and:
Situation Supporting Documents Required
I am leaving a shelter
I am leaving an institution (i.e. corrections, Landlord Information Request form
mental health and/or addictions) (FE-001) or copy of lease
I was evicted from my housing
B. I am housed but need to move because:
Situation Supporting Documents Required
I found more affordable housing
I am over housed Landlord Information Request form
(FE-001) or copy of lease
I am fleeing domestic violence or a
relationship breakdown
Documents verifying home is unfit
My home is not fit to be lived in; or I had a (i.e. Public Health Inspector, doctor, etc.)
fire or flood Landlord Information Request form
(FE-001) or copy of lease
Supporting documents, where possible
Other Landlord Information Request form
(FE-001) or copy of lease
C. The items you need to move to new housing:
Item(s) Required Cost Item(s) Required Cost
Last Month's Rent Deposit $ Utility Deposit $
Other – please provide details: $
4. REMAIN IN EXISTING HOUSING
A. I am at-risk of becoming homeless:
Situation Supporting Documents Required
Copy of eviction notice (i.e., N4);
I have received an eviction notice
Rent ledger
B. I need help to remain in my housing:
Situation Supporting Documents Required
I have received a utility disconnection
notice or my utility has been disconnected Copy of disconnection notice
You must be in receipt of or apply for the Ontario
Electricity Support Program (OESP) credit
Other - please provide details: Attach supporting documents, where
possible
C. The items you need to remain in your housing:
Item(s) Required Cost Item(s) Required Cost
Rental Arrears $ Utility Arrears $
Other – please provide details: $
June 2024
APPLICATION COMPLETION AND SUBMISSION
Your HEF application will be reviewed to determine if you meet the criteria and are eligible for the
Housing Emergency Fund.
When you select Submit below, an email will open. Please remember to attach any required
supporting documents before sending the email.
You will be notified in writing regarding the decision. Please submit only one application following the
below options:
Please submit this form using the selections below.
If you are completing this application for yourself, and
• you are in receipt of Ontario Works, or are in an emergency shelter and receive
ODSP benefits, submit your application to the City of Hamilton HEF teams here
OR
• Via fax 905-546-6358 COH
Submit
• In person at:
o Housing Services office (350 King Street East)
o Ontario Works offices (250 Main Street East or 1550 Upper James)
• you are in receipt of ODSP (and live in the community), or are living with low
income, submit your application to the Housing Help Centre here
OR HHC
Submit
• In person at:
o Housing Help Centre office (119 Main Street East)
• you identify as Indigenous and prefer to be supported by an Indigenous-led
program, submit your application to the Hamilton Regional Indian Centre here
OR HRIC
Submit
• In person at:
o Hamilton Regional Indian Centre (34 Ottawa Street North)
• you are unsure who your application should be submitted to, submit it here
UNKWN
Submit
If you are program staff submitting this application on behalf of a client please use the City of Hamilton
appropriate submission button
Submit
Housing Help
Centre Hamilton
Submit
Hamilton Regional
Indian Centre
Submit
Other Partner
Agency
Submit
Notice of Collection of Personal Information pursuant to the Municipal Freedom of Information
and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA)
The City of Hamilton collects information under authority of Section 227 of the Municipal Act, 2001.
Any personal information collected will be used administering homelessness prevention programs
and the City of Hamilton’s Housing Emergency Fund, including determining eligibility and program
evaluation. By providing your email address, you are consenting to receiving emails from the City of
Hamilton and/or their agents/contractors for purposes related to notifying individuals of their program
eligibility. Information collected for this initiative may be stored on servers located in Canada and
may be subject to Canadian laws. Questions about the collection of this personal information can be
directed to the Manager of Tenant Supports, Housing Service, 350 King St E., Hamilton, ON L8N
3Y3, 905- 546-2424 ext. 6555 or [email protected].
June 2024
