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.
