Closed
Source verified April 27, 2026
Rent Secure
Time-limited housing support for Hamilton renters
Latest source updateLast Update: June 30, 2026Latest change: Rent Secure now shows a Hamilton housing benefit for households experiencing chronic homelessness, including eligibility, referral, funding, and contact details.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: June 30, 2026
Latest change: Rent Secure now shows a Hamilton housing benefit for households experiencing chronic homelessness, including eligibility, referral, funding, and contact details.
Rent Secure program details updated
Rent Secure now shows a time-limited portable benefit of up to 2 years for households in Hamilton, aligned with the Canada/Ontario Housing Benefit and paid directly to the landlord. The page also adds a contact email, housingallowances@hamilton.ca, and notes that the benefit is reserved for households experiencing chronic homelessness rather than the general public. The eligibility details now include Canadian citizen, permanent resident or refugee claimant status, residency in the City of Hamilton, inclusion on or referral from the By-Name-Priority-List, no home ownership, a signed lease, a signed intake form, and a landlord agreement with the City of Hamilton. The guidelines also say participants must pursue a COHB application if referred, complete annual reviews, and report income changes greater than 20% plus household composition or school status changes.
Funding available
Varies by project
Deadline
Closed
Location
Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
Overview
Rent Secure is a City of Hamilton housing support for households experiencing chronic homelessness in Hamilton. It provides a time-limited portable benefit that bridges the affordability gap in private market rental housing and helps move participants toward the Canada/Ontario Housing Benefit.
/100
Opportunity Score
Moderate potential, but conditions must align.
At a glance
Funding available
Financing goals
- Develop a new program or service
- Increase social or community impact
- Enhance an existing program
Eligible Funding
- Varies by project
Funds Providers
Eligible candidates
Eligible Industries
- All industries
Location
- Hamilton
- Ontario
Legal structures
- All legal structures
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Rural or Northern Residents
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Helping bridge the affordability gap in private market rental housing
- Supporting the transition from the temporary municipal benefit to the more permanent COHB
Documents Needed
- A copy of a signed lease with a Landlord
- Complete a Rent Secure intake form with consent that is signed and dated
- Have an annual income tax return with the Canada Revenue Agency
Official resources
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Households experiencing chronic homelessness
- Households referred by City funded Case Management teams working with households currently experiencing homelessness
- Households referred by approved Homeless Serving Agency
Who is not eligible
- The general public
- Households already in receipt of a rent-geared-to-income (RGI) or other type of housing assistance such as a different Housing Allowance or COHB unless approved by the Service Manager
Eligible expenses
- A flexible benefit based on a calculation modeled on COHB, including percentages of average market rent + utilities and adjusted household income
Eligible geographic areas
- City of Hamilton
Selection criteria
- Applications are identified by City funded Case Management teams working with households currently experiencing homelessness.
- By-name data referrals prioritize Indigenous clients, people living unsheltered, and people that are chronically homeless.
Processing and Agreement
- Participants must agree to pursue an application to the Canada/Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB) if referred by the City of Hamilton.
- Participants must undergo an annual review to determine continued eligibility.
- Recipients must update housing services of any changes to income greater than 20% or household composition or school status for members reporting income.
Additional information
- Participants must agree to pursue an application to the Canada/Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB) if referred by the City of Hamilton.
- Participants must undergo an annual review to determine continued eligibility.
- Recipients must update housing services of any changes to income greater than 20% or household composition or school status for members reporting income.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Rent Secure Program
What is the Rent Secure?
Rent Secure is a City of Hamilton housing support for households experiencing chronic homelessness in Hamilton. It provides a time-limited portable benefit that bridges the affordability gap in private market rental housing and helps move participants toward the Canada/Ontario Housing Benefit.
Who is eligible for the Rent Secure program?
To be eligible for the Rent Secure program, you must:
Be a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or refugee claimant
Be a renter household
Reside in the City of Hamilton
What expenses are eligible under Rent Secure?
Helping bridge the affordability gap in private market rental housing
Supporting the transition from the temporary municipal benefit to the more permanent COHB
Who can I contact for more information about the Rent Secure?
You can contact City of Hamilton by email at housingallowances@hamilton.ca.
Where is the Rent Secure available?
The Rent Secure program is available the province of Ontario.
Who are the financial supporters of the Rent Secure?
Rent Secure is funded by City of Hamilton