Open
Source verified August 17, 2026
Social Housing
Lower-cost housing for low-to-moderate incomes
Latest source updateLast Update: August 17, 2026Latest change: Key directive text was removed from several social housing directive pages, including eligibility and household-selection rules, and one page now shows only reference and contact material.View change
Latest source update
Last Update: August 17, 2026
Latest change: Key directive text was removed from several social housing directive pages, including eligibility and household-selection rules, and one page now shows only reference and contact material.
Social housing directives updated
The directive pages for Restrictions from Transfer Orders for Federal Housing Programs (H-03-09) and Selection of Households for a Vacant Unit under the Cascading Age Policy (H-03-32) no longer show the substantive rule text; the visible content is now limited to reference, contact, and footer material. The Review of RGI Eligibility by Housing Providers (H-20-09) also now shows reduced content, with a Housing Programs Administrator contact line visible alongside the remaining reference material. This affects the visibility of the eligibility, household-selection, and application instructions that were previously shown on these directive pages.
Funding available
Varies by project
Deadline
Open continuously
Location
Kingston, Ontario, Canada
Overview
Social housing in Kingston and Frontenac provides lower-cost rental units or a housing allowance to households with low-to-moderate incomes. Available programs include Rent-Geared-to Income Housing and Portable Housing Benefit, supporting rent payments and housing costs.
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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
- Kingston
- Ontario
Legal structures
- Non-profit
Annual revenue
- All revenue ranges
Organisation size
- All organization sizes
Audience
- Indigenous Peoples
- Persons with Disabilities
- Rural or Northern Residents
- Canadians
- Women
Non-profit candidates
Sector of operation
- Social Services
- Income Support and Maintenance
- Housing
Target groups
- Indigenous peoples
- People with disabilities
- Women & girls
- Rural / Remote communities
- Low-income individuals / families
Revenue structures
- 100% donations / grants
Scope
- Local
- Municipal
- Regional
Next Steps
1
Determine your project
2
Validate your eligibility
Activities funded
- Lower-cost rental units
- Housing allowance
Documents Needed
- Verification of disability or medical condition
- Legal documents such as a custody order, a lawyer’s letter, or an affidavit declaration
Official resources
Program guide
Application form
Eligibility
Who is eligible?
- Households with low-to-moderate incomes
- Low-income households
Who is not eligible
- Households that refuse an offer to transfer to another unit permissible under the Service Manager's occupancy standards after a year from being notified that they are in a unit larger than permitted.
Eligible expenses
- Rental costs in the private rental market
Eligible geographic areas
- City of Kingston
- County of Frontenac
Selection criteria
- The Housing Provider may determine if the vacancy will be offered to households on the Centralized Waiting List or the Housing Provider’s Internal Transfer List and once determined must continue to offer the unit to households on the list until the unit is accepted or the list is exhausted.
- Special Priority households eligible for the unit are offered the vacancy in chronological order.
- If the Housing Provider has decided to offer the unit to households on the Centralized Waiting List and the unit is not accepted by the Special Priority household, the unit may be offered to households on the Centralized Waiting List in chronological order after Special Priority.
- Over housed will not be a priority category on the Centralized Waiting List.
How to apply
- Apply directly to the Social Housing Registry as a new applicant household if you want to be added to the Centralized Waiting List in the first twelve months.
Processing and Agreement
- The Social Housing Registry shall use the prescribed Household Income Limits in determining a household’s eligibility to be placed on the Centralized Waiting List, and Housing Providers shall use the prescribed Household Income Limits to confirm eligibility for Rent-Geared-to-Income units at initial occupancy.
- The Service Manager is required to report statistical data related to Rent-Geared-to-Income households with income below the Household Income Limits and High Needs income annually to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing.
Additional information
- Households are defined as all people who will be living in the same unit.
- All providers are requested to comply with the Social Housing Directives.
Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions about the Social Housing Program
What is the Social Housing?
Social housing in Kingston and Frontenac provides lower-cost rental units or a housing allowance to households with low-to-moderate incomes. Available programs include Rent-Geared-to Income Housing and Portable Housing Benefit, supporting rent payments and housing costs.
Who is eligible for the Social Housing program?
To be eligible for the Social Housing program, you must:
The household's total income is the net income of all the household members, excluding members who are in full-time attendance at a recognized educational institution.
The value of the assets of the household must not exceed a specified maximum value.
At least one household member must be 16 years of age or older and able to live independently, and each member must be a Canadian citizen, a permanent resident applicant, or a refugee claimant with no enforceable removal order.
What expenses are eligible under Social Housing?
Lower-cost rental units
Housing allowance
Who can I contact for more information about the Social Housing?
You can contact City of Kingston by email at theregistry@cityofkingston.ca or by phone at 613-546-2695.
Where is the Social Housing available?
The Social Housing program is available the province of Ontario.
Who are the financial supporters of the Social Housing?
Social Housing is funded by City of Kingston