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Housing for Vulnerable Newcomers

This presentation provides important information about housing benefits, rental process, and social assistance for newcomers. It includes key points, resources, and guidelines to assist newcomers in their housing search.

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Housing for Vulnerable Newcomers

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  1. Date: December 12, 2018 • Location: Humber College, Lakeshore Campus (G Commons) • Presenters: • Richard Marshall, Housing Consultant, City of Toronto Housing Stability Services Unit • Steve Meagher, Shelter Manager, Christie Refugee Welcome Centre • Ashtar Ojanes, Housing Counsellor, COSTI • Joeita Gupta, Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations (FMTA) • Facilitator: • Nadine Nasir - Toronto South Local Immigration Partnership Housing for Vulnerable Newcomers

  2. Richard Marshall, Housing Consultant, City of Toronto Housing Stability Services Unit Housing Benefits Overview andImmigration and Refugee Status and Eligibility KEY POINTS and Resources City of Toronto, Shelter, Support & Housing Administration 2018

  3. Housing Benefits Overview Key Points Richard Marshall, Housing Consultant, City of Toronto Housing Stability Services Unit City of Toronto, Shelter, Support & Housing Administration 2017

  4. Housing Benefits Overview Other Resources and Websites Richard Marshall, Housing Consultant, City of Toronto Housing Stability Services Unit • Information about Special Priority Program for Victims of Domestic Violence or Human Trafficking • https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/employment-social-support/housing-support/rent-geared-to-income-subsidy/survivors-of-domestic-abuse-or-human-trafficking/ • Housing and Homelessness Services Glossary • https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/data-research-maps/research-reports/housing-and-homelessness-research-and-reports/shelter-support-and-housing-administration-glossary-of-terms/ • Housing Help Centres • https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/housing-shelter/homeless-help/#housing • Information about Subsidized Housing and Housing Allowances • https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/employment-social-support/housing-support/subsidized-housing-housing-benefits/ City of Toronto, Shelter, Support & Housing Administration 2017

  5. Housing Orientation for Newcomers • Context: • Many clients are unaware of Canadian systems and processes related to housing (first time searching for housing in Canada). • Many clients are unaware/surprised how difficult securing housing is. • Some clients have expectations related to housing that should be discussed and addressed. Steve Meagher, Shelter Manager, Christie Refugee Welcome Centre • Purpose: • Provides important information about the rental process; • Reviews social assistance benefits; • Provides critical information that will assist clients to begin their housing search and make informed decisions. What is a Housing Orientation? A consultation between a service provider and a newcomer that provides information and support to a newcomer that is seeking housing.

  6. Housing Orientation Guidelines Steve Meagher, Shelter Manager, Christie Refugee Welcome Centre 2 1

  7. Housing Orientation Guidelines Steve Meagher, Shelter Manager, Christie Refugee Welcome Centre • Explain the rental process, including: • Roles and responsibilities of landlords and tenants. • Information about housing contract/lease agreement. • Rental payments, rental deposits and utilities (including Pay Direct options). 3 Reminder: • Inform resident of Shelter Allowance • Ontario Works will be contacted once rental unit is secured so that Shelter Allowance can be issued and deposited into bank account.

  8. Housing Orientation Guidelines Steve Meagher, Shelter Manager, Christie Refugee Welcome Centre 4 • Provide a Housing Letter • The letter can be used as they begin to search for accommodations, and should include: • Current address • Immigration status • Role of your organization • Confirmation that resident/family is in receipt of social assistance • Monthly amount of social assistance received (or expected to be received). • Many landlords request an employment letter, so providing an ‘Income Letter’ as opposed to a ‘Support Letter’ may be more effective. • If information provided in letter changes, provide an updated letter. I.e. if monthly income increases, client obtains employment, guarantor is available, etc.

  9. Housing Orientation Guidelines Steve Meagher, Shelter Manager, Christie Refugee Welcome Centre 5 • Provide rental listings • Explain different areas and neighbourhoods around the GTA. • Schedule a follow-up appointment to assist with housing search. • In the current market, simply providing listings is often not an sufficient on its own—follow-up appointments allow service providers to provide additional advocacy and keep residents motivated in the housing search process are beneficial (if possible). 6 • Provide a blank Rental Information Form • Residents can use this to bring back information on accommodations that they are interested in. • Provides necessary information so staff can follow up with landlord and/or property management on rental unit. • Many clients experience discrimination based on immigration status, language, race and family composition, so having staff advocate and follow-up as early as possible in the process is important.

  10. Housing Orientation Guidelines Steve Meagher, Shelter Manager, Christie Refugee Welcome Centre • When a client finds accommodations: • Provide general information about move-out procedure, including stabilization services provided by Housing Program and taxi voucher eligibility. • At CRWC, we provide a Community Exit Consultation, with important information and referrals as the client moves into their new community, including: • New Ontario Works office • Affordable grocery stores and basic needs supports • Walk-in clinics and hospital • Children’s school and ESL locations (if applicable) • Where to update address • Available Settlement and Housing Services • Document the housing orientation. • Case notes & statistics.

  11. Tips for Finding Private Accommodations Ashtar Ojanes, Housing Counsellor, COSTI • Conduct a Housing Orientation • Consider need, for example:type of accommodation, number of bedrooms, family size, budget, area, number of girl and boy children, etc. • Assess and apply for services and supports that clients may be eligible for. • Advocate for the client, ie. by writing an income letter, breaking down the client’s income, providing a reference letter, etc. • Remember word of mouth (ask Friends, Community, Church, Mosque). • Provide some resources for the client that can help with housing search, for example: • Kijiji • View it.ca • 4rent.ca • Use a housing first approach (priority is for housing) • Empower clients to take an active role in their search for housing (Internet, Newspapers, walk through the area, rent signs ). Housing is a shared responsibility between the service provider and client. • Follow-up with the client. • 24/7 apartment • Caprent.com • Sublet.com • Collab

  12. Building Relationships with Landlords Ashtar Ojanes, Housing Counsellor, COSTI • Educate the Landlord, i.e. what is a refugee claimant, what are social benefits. • Give the option of direct payment. • Provide your organization’s contact number to the landlord. • Provide your organization’s name as a reference name. • Respect the landlord’s time and follow up with the landlord regarding the appointment that was booked with the client. Keep a good relationship and reputation with the landlord.

  13. Eviction Prevention • Residential Tenancies Act: Top 10 Tips • Any issue that arises with a client’s tenancy, there are three stages to a response: an initial (documentation), intermediary (complaint) and final (Landlord and Tenant Board). • Documenting the process is the only stage you have some control. It’s also the stage that makes the biggest difference. Work with your clients to write letters, send emails, take pictures or videos, save receipts, keep track of dates and times. • Not everything the landlord says or the contract says is accurate. When the landlord or contract complies with the law: that’s great. When there is a difference, the law prevails. • There is a power imbalance between landlords and tenants. To that end, please encourage your tenants to stand up for themselves and say “no” when the landlord breaks the law. Joeita Gupta, Coordinator, Tenant School Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations (FMTA)

  14. Eviction Prevention Joeita Gupta, Coordinator, Tenant School Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations (FMTA) There are over 20 laws that influence landlord and tenant relationships. You (and nobody really) needs to be an expert on all of them. The provincial law for landlords and tenants is called the Residential Tenancies Act. The Human Rights Code is also important to be aware of: it trumps (supersedes) other legislation. Most tenants are protected by the law. There are some exceptions: a tenant who shares a kitchen and/or a bathroom with their landlord; a tenant who pays rent to another tenant and does not have a relationship with the landlord (roommate). These tenants have no protection under the RTA or human rights code. This is the first thing to check in about. Landlords do not evict tenants (where the law applies). Only the Landlord and tenant Board has the power to do that. There must be a valid reason given. The landlord must use the government eviction notice (warning) and go through the eviction process step-by-step. Only the sheriff can enforce an eviction order.

  15. Eviction Prevention Joeita Gupta, Coordinator, Tenant School Federation of Metro Tenants’ Associations (FMTA) • If your tenant has extenuating personal circumstance’s you can raise that at an eviction hearing (relief from eviction). If the eviction is for non-payment of rent, your client can make a payment plan. Please think about making a payment plan that the tenant can actually afford and manage to keep up with. • Even if the Landlord and tenant board issues an eviction order against a tenant and you are able to organize funding to cover the outstanding rent, you still need to obtain an order from the LTB to cancel the original eviction order. Don’t just pay the rent and assume the eviction has been cancelled. In calculating what the tenant owes, you have to add up whatever is owing, any rent that has become due, the landlord’s filing fees etc. • Please call and get help. Your clients and even you can phone the Tenant Hotline between 8:30 AM through 6 PM, Mondays through Fridays to get help from us. We offer real-time translation in 150 different languages. You can call the hotline at 416-921-9494 or visit our website, torontotenants.org.

  16. Capacity Building Project Website https://torontolips.wixsite.com/capacitybuilding

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