Page 13 - Building a Stronger Foundation | CHC Annual Report 2022

146
303
127
576 seniors, adults survivors of homeless or at
and families domestic abuse greater risk of
and/or human homelessness
trafficking

people moved into rent-
geared-to-income (RGI) units:

Canada Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB) helping more low-income
households

New in 2020, the Government of Canada introduced the Canada Ontario Housing Benefit
(COHB). It is a joint federal-provincial housing allowance program providing an income-
tested, portable housing benefit payment (PHB) to low-income households. Unlike other
forms of housing benefit, the COHB is attached to a person or a household, and not to a
specific address or housing unit.

In Windsor Essex, 485 households currently receive the COHB, which breaks down as
follows.
• 239 were new in 2022;
• Average monthly benefit: $395.96
• Total monthly CHOB allowance: $87,465.18, for a total annual allocation of $1,228,600

For comparison, In 2021 257 COHB payments were administered and households
received an average monthly benefit of $308.00.

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) recently announced Windsor
Essex’s planned funding allocation for the 2023-24 program year in the amount of
$874,100; estimating Windsor Essex’s ability to assist between 144 and 176 new applicant
households in the 2023/2024 fiscal year.

Windsor Essex Housing Benefit helps 46 more
vulnerable tenants

The Windsor Essex Housing Benefit (WEHB) is a housing allowance designed to support
vulnerable households and is an alternative to waiting for rent geared to income (RGI)
units. In 2022, there were 46 recipients of WEHB, with an average monthly benefit of
$414.00.

Compared to 2021, by year end there were 51 recipients in Windsor Essex County, with
an average monthly benefit of $317.00.

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