Contact: Stacey Sutherland or Sigi Seiler
Office phone: 905 527-7479
Fax: 905 546-0216
Email: help@housinghelpcentre.ca
Address: 210 Napier St., Hamilton, ON, L8R 1S7
Office hours: Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 10am – 4:30pm
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Housing Emergency Loan Program (HELP) exists to prevent homelessness by providing financial assistance in the form of short-term, interest-free loans to individuals and families who are experiencing financial difficulties that force them into a housing crisis. HELP began as a community initiative in 1999 and started administrating the Provincial Rent Bank in Hamilton in 2005.
Eligibility criteria:
Basic Eligibility:
Individuals, couples and families who are tenants in the City of Hamilton
Have an income below the poverty line (Income may be paid employment, pension or other social benefits)
There are no age or citizenship requirements
Any previous HELP loans must be paid in full.
General Eligibility:
The following criteria will be used to determine if an applicant is eligible for a loan:
The rent of the proposed housing unit must be sustainable i.e. within the range of what the tenant can afford on his or her present income.
The tenant intends to stay in the unit for at least one year.
The tenant must demonstrate that the financial crisis is temporary , not chronic, and that the problem can be addressed through one-time assistance.
The loan is not to exceed:
One month's rent for HELP (LMR, utilities, moving costs, etc.)
Two month's rent for the Ontario Loan Fund (rental arrears)
There is a reasonable expectation that the loan will be repaid within one year.
Application process: 7-10 days from time of Intake. Intakes are done by appointment only.
All applications are reviewed by a panel of volunteers who decide who get loan assistance based on our eligibility criteria: rental arrears (two months maximum)
Last month's rent deposits (equivalent of one month's rent) moving and storage expenses.
Heat or Hydro arrears (maximum $300)
Accepting applications from:
Low-income tenants in Hamilton. Two months for rental arrears
Equivalent of one month's rent for last month's rent deposits, storage and movers
Maximum $300 for utility arrears . Payment options are: cash, cheque, money order, or automatic withdrawal from bank account.
Funded by:
Provincial government (rental arrears)
Municipal funding (PHIF, Hamilton Community Partnership Program) and private donations (other loans) No, although limited funds are available to assist with utility arrears when all other sources are exhausted.
Area served
