housing help

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Housing Help Centre at Community Care

129 Church St., St. Catharines, ON L2R 3E2 · 905.984.8955 or email housing@communitycarestca.ca

HOW WE HELP

We identify and work closely with those at risk of homelessness due to eviction or housing loss
Referrals to legal support, income supports and other programs
Support solutions to tenancy issues
Engage with landlords and help mediate
Rapid rehousing for those who’ve lost housing
Help finding safe alternatives to shelter
Money Management – Trusteeship Service (including youth, 16 – 24 years old)
ID Clinic for vulnerable people without a permanent address – click here for referrals
Assistance with discharge from institutions
Receiving mail for people without a permanent address
Referrals to other resources, programs and services in the community
RentSmart training
Utility Assistance and help with OESP – click here for more info

Housing Help Services

For more information on Housing Programs, please review service descriptions and how to register.

Housing Help Centre

Are you at risk of losing your housing because of an eviction, family breakdown or any another reason? Have you recently lost your housing and need help? Contact our Prevention team for help!

To reach the housing team, email housing@communitycarestca.ca or call 905-984-8955 and press 1 or dial extension 214. Depending on your needs and the urgency of your situation, we can make some initial referrals, schedule an intake or do an immediate intake.

If you are in an urgent crisis, just lost your housing or facing imminent eviction in the next 72 hours, press 0 to get to the front desk.

If you need legal advice or representation at an upcoming hearing, contact the Niagara Legal Clinic for an intake as soon as possible.

Our office is open Monday to Friday, 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 3pm.

Niagara Regional Housing

You can find applications and information about how to apply to Niagara Regional Housing at nrh.ca. Paper applications are also availabe at NRH or at our office. We can help submit your application. NRH will contact you about missing information.

Trusteeship & Money Management

The Housing Help Centre offers a short-term voluntary trusteeship program for people on ODSP and OW and in housing crisis or at risk of homelessness. The program supports people from entering or re-entering the homelessness system and includes housing support, referrals, case management, assistance opening a bank account, and assistance budgeting until housing is stabilized.

For youth on Ontario Works between the ages of 16 – 18, trusteeship is legislated, and our agency supports youth at risk and transitioning from care with housing goals.

For those considering trusteeship or for agencies wanting to make a referral, other options to trusteeship should be explored before considering trusteeship, including setting up day directs for rent with Ontario Works and ODSP.

To learn more about youth trusteeship (16 – 24), send your questions here.

To learn more about adult trusteeship (25 +), send your questions here.

ID Clinic

The ID clinic assists people experiencing homelessness, living in shelter, or in crisis to apply for birth certificates and other forms of ID, and we provide support for shelters and outreach workers in getting ID for their clients in need.

The ID clinic operates on Wednesday afternoons.

The clinic prioritizes people in housing crisis. To refer yourself or a client in crisis, click here

Utility Assistance

The Housing Help Centre administers utility assistance programs funded through the Ontario Energy Board and the Niagara Region:

OESP – The Ontario Electricity Support Program is a monthly rebate to qualifying customers on a low income. You can apply directly online on your own, or you can get us to help with your application. Click here if you need assistance with your OESP application.

LEAP & NEEF programs – If you are in financial crisis and are facing a disconnection, there is also one-time emergency assistance available for those having trouble paying your utility bills. To learn about the application process to our utility assistance programs, click here.

our housing work, defined

Our main goal at the Housing Help Centre – to reduce the # of people becoming homeless due to eviction or housing loss through Prevention, Diversion, and Rapid Resolution

Prevention activities occur before an individual/family has legally lost their ability to reside at an address. The goal is sustaining an existing safe, appropriate tenancy.
Diversion activities occur once an individual/family has legally lost their housing, but prior to shelter entry. We assist to explore safe, appropriate options in community.
Rapid Resolution activities occur within the first 1-2 weeks of a shelter/emergency stay when an individual/family cannot find a safe and appropriate alternative.

Contact housing@communitycarestca.ca or call 905-984-8955 for more information or support!