Toronto Rent Bank grants provide support to Toronto residents who are behind on their rent or need help with a rental deposit. A partnership between the City of Toronto, Neighbourhood Information Post, and Local Access Centres, Toronto Rent Bank grants ensure that low-income individuals and families are able to stay in their homes and avoid homelessness.
In addition to NIP, the City partners with nine Local Access Centres:
The maximum Toronto Rent Bank grant for rental arrears is up to $5,000. Applicants whose rental arrears exceeds $5,000 may still apply if they meet the other eligibility criteria.
The maximum Toronto Rent Bank grant for rental deposits is based on unit size as follows:
| Maximum Rent Deposit Grant | |
|---|---|
| Bachelor | $2,000 |
| 1-bedroom | $2,500 |
| 2-bedroom | $3,000 |
| 3-bedroom | $3,500 |
Residents may be eligible for a rental arrears grant or rental deposit assistance if they:
| Family Size | Maximum Annual Income | Maximum Monthly Income |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $46,500.00 | $3,875 |
| 2 | $52,000.00 | $4,333 |
| 3 | $58,000.00 | $4,833 |
| 4 | $66,500.00 | $5,542 |
| 5 | $78,500.00 | $6,542 |
| 6 | $84,531.67 | $7,044 |
| 7 | $91,366.66 | $7,614 |
Note: Applicants who do not have identification can still apply and an intake worker can help them to obtain the required documents.
Personal household assets cannot exceed the following amounts:
$10,000 per individual (plus $500 per child)
$15,000 per couple (plus $500 per child)
Applicants whose rental arrears exceed $5,000 may still apply, and will receive assistance to negotiate a repayment plan with their landlord.
Other criteria will be considered on a case-by-case basis, in collaboration with the Toronto Rent Bank intake worker and Neighbourhood Information Post (NIP).
*Residents in receipt of social assistance should contact their Ontario Works (OW) or Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) office as they may qualify for the Housing Stabilization Fund.
Typically, applications require a minimum of five business days to process. In urgent situations, application approvals can be expedited provided the applicant has all the documentation ready.
In addition to English, Toronto Rent Bank offers services in the following languages:
While the Toronto Rent Bank only covers rental arrears and deposits, Toronto residents who need assistance paying utility arrears can apply to the Emergency Energy Fund (EEF) at 416-397-7368 or the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) at 416-924-2543.
For more information about resources to support low-income tenants in Toronto, call 211 or 311.
If you received a loan from the Rent Bank in 2020 or earlier, you are required to pay it back. Please contact the Toronto Rent Bank directly to discuss your loan status and repayment.
For people facing financial hardship, loan forgiveness may be possible. Please contact the Rent Bank (Neighbourhood Information Post) directly to complete a loan forgiveness application form.