Applying for subsidized housing may be confusing as there are several different housing initiatives with different eligibility criteria. However, it’s important to note that most subsidized housing units in Toronto are managed through the Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) subsidy with applicants placed on one centralized waiting list coordinated by Access to Housing.
The City of Toronto’s Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) Subsidy is a program to help make rent affordable by adjusting rent to the household’s monthly Adjusted Family Net Income. Individuals who apply for the RGI subsidy are placed on a Centralized Waiting List and are served on a first-come first-served basis unless eligible for priority status. Priority status is given to survivors of domestic abuse or human trafficking, terminally ill applicants with less than two years to live, applicants experiencing homelessness, and youth aged 16-17 who are considered heads of households.
The City has implemented a choice-based housing offer process where applicants can choose units of interest in their RGI housing applications. While widening an applicant's units of interest may marginally decrease their wait times, it’s important to note that the RGI offer process follows the Single Offer Rule. The Single Offer Rule means that applicants will receive only one offer of suitable RGI housing and if refused would be removed from the Centralized Waiting List.
All applications for RGI are to be created through the MyAccesstoHousingTO portal. However, currently, the number of units available is less than the number of those in need of subsidized housing, as such there are significant wait times. We recommend that RGI housing applications are regarded as a long-term housing solution.
