The DTSSAB Social Housing Program is responsible for the direct management of the public housing portfolio, the administration and maintenance of the Central Waiting List, and the administration of the social housing programs within the District.

Property Management

The Social Housing Reform Act, 2000, transferred the once provincially owned and managed public housing stock to 47 District Social Service Administration Boards (DSSABs), known throughout as “Service Managers”.  As of January 1, 2001, all former Ontario Housing Corporation assets (real property, assets and staff) were transferred to Local Housing Corporations, under DTSSAB administration.

The DTSSAB Social Housing Program serves approximately 700 – 800 tenants, and takes care of 492 Public Housing rental units with a staff of 11 operational and administrative employees and 16 Security Tenants.

The Public Housing Portfolio is made up of 22 Housing Projects which are scattered throughout Timiskaming, in 8 different municipalities including Larder Lake , Kirkland Lake , Elk Lake , Englehart, Earlton, New Liskeard, Haileybury and Cobalt.

Of the 492 units (unit meaning a single apartment or dwelling); 423 are single/senior apartments and 69 family housing (duplex/semi-detached & row housing).  It is our responsibility as a Public Housing Provider to deal with local issues and provide property management to the public housing units within our District.  This includes:

Maintenance

The Social Housing Program has Maintenance Repairperson/General Servicepersons, and local contractors who carry out the maintenance of our portfolio.  Our buildings are well maintained, clean, and safe.

Building Security

All buildings have a lock-entry system.  With the exception of our scattered units and town homes, all buildings have an intercom system, allowing access only when a tenant has a key or a tenant has de-activated the door lock and allowed entry to the visitor.

What’s New in Social Housing?

Rent-Geared-To-Income Housing

The Rent-Geared-To-Income (RGI) Program provides a subsidy to low income families and individuals to help provide safe and affordable housing.  The difference between what the market rent of a unit is, and the rent amount that you can afford to pay (calculated on your income), is the subsidy amount that is provided.   This subsidy was once the responsibility of the provincial government, however the responsibility has now been transferred to the DTSSAB.  More information on what is available, eligibility, and how to apply for RGI housing.

Central Waiting List

The Social Housing Reform Act also requires Service Managers to maintain a Central Waiting List for all Rent-Geared-to-Income Assistance applicants.  It requires that the DTSSAB must:

Special Priority Status is granted to applicants who are victims of domestic violence or abuse, placing them as the highest priority on the Central Waiting List.

Transitional Housing Support Program

The Social Housing Program has a Referral Agreement in place with the Pavillion Family Resource Centre, in order to assist women and their children who are victims of violence/ abuse, find and maintain housing within the District.

Administer Various Federal and Provincial Housing Programs

The DTSSAB must administer any/all Housing Programs that the federal or provincial governments may implement, current examples of these programs are:

• the Strong Communities Rent Supplement Program

• the Affordable Housing Program

• the Rent Bank Program

The DTSSAB is responsible to:

• receive, track and disburse funding appropriately and according to each program’s guidelines; and

• report to each government body, any and all information that may be required by them in relation to each particular program.

Administration of Housing Providers

The Social Housing Reform Act, 2000, also transferred to the Service Managers the administrative responsibilities once held by the province.  The DTSSAB became responsible for the administration of all Non-Profit and Urban and Native Housing Projects within the District, as well as the administration of any and various housing programs that the Federal or Provincial governments may implement in the future.

Non-Profit Housing

Non-Profit Housing is owned and operated on a not-for-profit basis by community based non-profit corporations, usually funded under a government housing program.  This is the most common form of social housing in Ontario .  Over 135,000 households live in housing which is owned and managed by local non-profit housing groups.  There are two types of non-profit housing providers:

• Private non-profits which are owned and run by groups such as churches, service clubs, seniors’ organizations and ethno-cultural groups.  The DTSSAB administers one such project:

  • the Zone K-1 Veterans Home Corporation, in Haileybury.

• Municipal Non-Profits which are controlled by local governments.  The DTSSAB administers two such projects:

  • the Kirkland Lake Non-Profit Housing Corporation, Phase I Golden Development project at 60 Fifth Street in Kirkland Lake, & Phase II family housing project on Pollock Avenue in Kirkland Lake; and

  • the New Liskeard Non-Profit Housing Corporation Lakeside Seniors project at 105 Market Street in New Liskeard.

Urban and Native Housing

The Urban and Native Housing Program is a non-profit program targeted to off-reserve aboriginal people.  The projects are owned and managed by aboriginal housing corporations.  The DTSSAB administers one such project, the scattered family housing units managed by Co-Tem Pro-Native Non-Profit Housing Corporation.

More information on how to contact these Non-Profit and Urban and Native Housing Providers to apply.

Monitoring Operational Performance

The DTSSAB must provide ongoing monitoring of operational performance of the Housing Providers; this includes periodic “Operational Reviews” or “Site Visits”, and the enforcement of any directives given to the provider resulting from these reviews.

Budget Review and Provision of Subsidy

The DTSSAB is responsible to:

• receive from each provider an annual subsidy request (Budget) as per legislated requirements, review each request and approve the annual subsidy;

• receive, review and provide (if approved) any additional mid year or special/emergency subsidy requests to providers; and

• adjust the subsidy payments to the new interest rate within one month of each provider’s mortgage renewal.

Development and Implementation of Local Area Housing Standards

The DTSSAB is responsible to:

• develop standards and policies to cover various Public and Social Housing functions and processes; and

• ensure that the overall Social Housing Program and Providers meet all Federal, Provincial, Municipal and general public requirements and expectations.