Homelessness Prevention Program

For Homelessness Support Services, please contact one of our offices during business hours or submit an application online using the link below.

If you need help in one of the areas listed below, please reach out to these agencies who provide crisis services 24 hours/day, 7 days/week:

Mental Health Crisis Line: 1-866-996-0991

Domestic Violence Support/Crisis Helpline: 1-800-267-4930

Women’s Sexual Assault Support and Crisis Line: 1-800-663-3060

Family and Children’s Services: 1-800-267-5878

Emergency Services: 911

The County of Renfrew has partnered with Built for Zero Canada (BFZC) and local community groups to help reduce chronic homelessness. BFZC is an ambitious national change effort helping a core group of leading communities end chronic homelessness. A By-Name List Survey has been created to better know every person experiencing homelessness by name, to understand their unique needs, and to prioritize services and housing supports.

The Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) is a provincially funded initiative delivered by the County of Renfrew to help residents with low income maintain housing stability.

To qualify, applicants must:

Reside within Renfrew County
Have net income lower than the HPP Income Level Cut-off chart
Have liquid assets not exceeding $2,500
Have not already received the maximum HPP benefit within the last 12 months
Submit a completed HPP Application (printable version) and submit requested documents to verify identity, income, and expenses
Meet criteria for eligible expenses

Use this link Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP) application to complete and submit your application online.

HPP Income Level Cut-offs
Household After Tax Income	Household Size
	1	2	3	4	5	6	7+
$38,000 or less	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible
$38,001 - $54,000		Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible
$54,001 - $65,000			Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible	Eligible
$65,001 - $71,000					Eligible	Eligible	Eligible

Maximum Eligibility

Households without children $1,500
Households with children $2,000

Eligible Expenses

Hotel/Motel Stay

Imminent or current homelessness
Unable to stay with family or friends
Applicant must participate in finding alternate housing
Vendor paid directly

Rent Deposit/Last Month's Rent

Imminent or current homelessness
Unemployed and moving for training or employment
Moving to more affordable accommodations
Moving due to health hazard
Landlord paid directly

Rent Arrears

At risk of eviction for non-payment of rent
The applicant must agree to a payment plan to ensure that ongoing rent is paid
Landlord paid directly

Utility Arrears

Imminent or current hydro, fuel, or water service disconnection
HPP can only be issued if the vendor will reconnect or stop disconnection
The applicant must agree to a payment plan to prevent future risk of utility interruption
Equipment rental & utility deposits can be paid if required to obtain new utility service

Transportation

Emergency circumstances where transportation is required to secure shelter (e.g. bus ticket, gas voucher)

Extraordinary Expenses

Other expenses connected to an emergency may be approved if required to ensure housing stability. Eligibility for extraordinary expenses will be considered in cases where failing to provide financial assistance may result in the loss of housing or housing safety.

Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)

If you have fallen behind on your utility bill, you may also apply to the Ontario Energy Board Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP). Through LEAP, low-income customers can get direct support to pay bills to ensure that electricity and natural gas services are not disconnected. Maximum LEAP grant amounts are:

$650 for electricity bills ($780 if your home is heated electrically)
$650 for natural gas bills

Residential customers that have fallen behind on paying electricity or natural gas bills with Alectra Utilities, Elexicon Energy, Enbridge Gas, Hydro One Networks, InnPower, Renfrew Hydro or Union Gas, should call 1-855-487-5327 to apply for a LEAP grant.

Housing and Homelessness Resolution

On June 28, 2023, Renfrew County Council passed a Housing and Homelessness Resolution highlighting the housing and homelessness crisis being felt across Ontario and within Renfrew County. The resolution calls on the Province of Ontario to acknowledge the housing affordability crisis, commit to ending homelessness and provide adequate, predictable and sustainable housing infrastructure renewal funding.

County of Renfrew calls upon the Government of Canada and Province of Ontario to ensure that application-based funding that is made available to address the province’s Housing Supply Action Plan and Canada’s National Housing Strategy is applicable to local governments, partnerships, and non-profits, and provides the necessary application time period to allow for appropriate community consultation and engagement.

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Homelessness Prevention Program