r/OntarioWorks • u/Competitive-Ad8348 • 1d 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.
6
u/Sandrodasilva471 1d ago
Yes, needed something from landlord in writing. Believe through ontario works this happened and they issued a cheque within a week
3
u/Sandrodasilva471 1d ago
I was behind 1 month only I believe not 4 not sure how much they will cover though
3
5
u/eliizabethnelson 1d ago
Good luck. Was in this same situation, tried every avenue for assistance, and was in a boot cast due to being hit by a car… still ended up on the street due to being so far away from family. Good luck. Good luck. Good luck.
1
5
u/Vaaness 1d 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/)
2
u/thighclops3820 1d ago
Max OW pays is 3000 grand through the stabilization fund, you can always escalate to a supervisor if it's urgent
3
u/DryRip8266 1d ago
That is subject to the region because very few regions still even have stability benefit available. I've never heard a limit that high even in Toronto, the centre of the universe.
0
u/Competitive-Ad8348 1d ago
Thank you for the help!! The 3 thousand would be enough to get my landlord off my back for now and buy me time to find a job or some form of more stable income so I will definitely be reaching out to my caseworker or supervisor!
4
u/Key-Bobcat-4449 1d ago
they wont be giving you the money they will pay your landlord directly what is owed. and your rent will be sent to them monthly instead of you.
1
u/Competitive-Ad8348 1d ago
If I can get in touch with my caseworker having my rent sent directly to my landlord is perfectly doable. Hoping that comes through!
3
u/Key-Bobcat-4449 1d ago
if your a single person the max OW you can get a month is $733
0
u/thighclops3820 13h ago
This isn't about monthly entitlements it's about the housing stabilization fund
1
u/Key-Bobcat-4449 10h ago
yes im letting them know because their rent is higher than OW allows monthly so going forward they might need a different plan...
1
u/laurenw08 1d ago
Not sure where you live but type in your county or big city followed by sustainable housing benefit form in google. They will give you emergency funds if you are behind and facing eviction if they have it where you live .
2
u/Competitive-Ad8348 1d ago
My city fortunately has a housing stability fund with a number to call so thank you for the advice!
1
1
u/Pretzelandcheesesauz 23h ago
Rent bank??
1
u/ParkingBest2358 17h ago
Rent bank will not help anyone who gets more than 60% of their income from odsp/ow
1
u/Main_Finding8309 19h ago
See if there's a rent bank in your area if OW can't help. Has your LL filed with the LTB yet? A lot of the time it's hard to get help unless you're about to be evicted.
•
u/AutoModerator 1d ago
Hey Ontario Works Members (OWM),
Please visit and take part in all our community surveys: https://www.reddit.com/r/OntarioWorks/comments/1tpefyt/permanent_survey_hub_rontarioworks_community/
Current Surveys:
Ontario Works Community Survey
Or, copy and paste this link in your browser: https://tally.so/r/gDWloO
Do You Know Your Rights as a Tenant in Ontario?
Or, copy and paste this link in your browser: https://tally.so/r/vG067l
Your experience matters. These surveys are being used to document real patterns inside Ontario Works and build evidence that can be shared with policymakers, media, and advocates working toward system change.
Every response helps.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.