The WEHB is a monthly benefit paid directly to you to help you pay your rent. You can use the benefit amount to help pay your rent anywhere in Windsor Essex County. The amount of WEHB you receive is not based on the amount of rent you pay, but on an assessment of your household’s total earnings and the average market rent amounts in the area where you live.
The WEHB is designed to support vulnerable households and is an alternative to RGI. Your household cannot receive both RGI and the WEHB at the same time. But unlike RGI, you do not have to live in social housing to receive the WEHB.
In June 2020, the City of Windsor as Service Manager introduced the Windsor Essex Housing Benefit (WEHB).The Windsor Essex Housing Benefit (WEHB) is designed to increase the affordability of rental housing by providing an income-tested, portable housing benefit that is paid directly to eligible households. This new housing allowance program provides an alternative to waiting for rent geared-to-income (RGI) housing.
You or your household may be eligible for the WEHB if you meet the following criteria:
Must be on the CHR waitlist. Applications for subsidized housing in Windsor and Essex County can be obtained by calling 519-254-6994
The WEHB is a monthly benefit paid directly to you to help you pay your rent. You can use the benefit amount to help pay your rent anywhere in Windsor Essex County. The amount of WEHB you receive is not based on the amount of rent you pay, but on an assessment of your household’s total earnings and the average market rent amounts in the area where you live.
The WEHB is designed to support vulnerable households and is an alternative to RGI. Your household cannot receive both RGI and the WEHB at the same time. But unlike RGI, you do not have to live in social housing to receive the WEHB.
No, you will be removed from the CHR wait list when you start to receive the WEHB.
You may not have to move to receive the WEHB. As long as you live in the Windsor Essex service area and do not live in an RGI unit, you can use the WEHB to pay rent where you are living now.
If you do not live in the Windsor Essex service area, you can apply for the WEHB, but will have to move to the service area within 30 days of being approved for the WEHB to start receiving the benefit. If you live in an RGI unit, you have 60 days to move to a non-RGI unit before you can start receiving the WEHB.
The WEHB is based on the difference between 30 per cent of your income and 90% of the average market rent in the Windsor Essex service area. You can use the benefit to live anywhere in the Windsor Essex service area, possibly even where you live now.
RGI is based on 30 per cent of your income. RGI is only available in specific properties, so you must move to receive RGI.
The best way to understand if the WEHB or RGI is better for you is to look at the amount of money you will have left after you pay your rent. For example:
If you are not already receiving the full shelter allowance from Ontario Works or ODSP, your social assistance will increase. The combination of your shelter allowance and WEHB cannot be more than the cost of your rent and utilities.
Yes. There is an Annual Review of Eligibility in September of every year to re-calculate your WEHB amount, and this review will require your most recent income tax return. Filing your income tax return by the end of April each year will ensure you have the documents required for your annual review.
Eligible WEHB participants who require assistance with first and/or last month’s rent will be referred to the City of Windsor Housing Services Department to apply for assistance through the Housing Stability Plan (HSP).
For more information, please review the WEHB Information Sheet (PDF).
As the WEHB is only available for priority applicants on the CHR Wait List, CHC staff will be reaching out to eligible applicants to determine interest and provide further information.
All WEHB Applications must be completed with the assistance of designated CHC staff to be assessed for eligibility.
To contact CHC regarding the WEHB program or to complete an application, please call or email: