News release: Toronto Community Housing provides details of its program to help tenants with employment income loss due to COVID-19

TORONTO, March 27, 2020—Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC) has announced details of how it will offer flexibility to tenants who have lost employment income due to COVID-19.

"As one of many steps we are taking to help our tenants during this difficult time, we are offering rent adjustments or deferrals to tenants who have lost employment income because of COVID-19 so they can maintain their housing during this unprecedented public health emergency," President and CEO Kevin Marshman said.

"These rent adjustments and deferrals apply only to those who have lost income. We ask those tenants who have not lost employment income because of COVID-19 to continue to pay their rent in full. The rent our tenants pay is an important source of revenue and helps offset our increased costs as a result of COVID-19," Marshman added.

TCHC will work with tenants in rent-geared-to-income (RGI) households to recalculate their rent if their employment income is reduced. TCHC is asking RGI tenants to contact their local office to discuss their situation.

TCHC is also offering market rent tenants the option to defer a portion of their rent. They can elect to pay one-third, half or three-quarters of their rent for the months of April, May and June. They can then take six to eight months to pay the balance of their rent in addition to paying their regular rent.

Both RGI and market rent tenants must provide documentation to support their income loss. While TCHC will work with tenants who do not have that documentation, the tenant will need to submit it at a later date in order to confirm that they have lost employment income due to COVID-19. Tenants who cannot do so will be required to pay any additional amounts that they owe.

To ask for a rent adjustment (RGI) or a deferral (market), tenants need to fill out a form and return it to TCHC.  Tenants can obtain the form by:

  • Calling our 24-hour Client Care Centre at 416-981-5500
  • Sending an email to help@torontohousing.ca
  • Downloading the forms below
  • Watching for a package TCHC is mailing to all households

During the COVID-19 emergency, Toronto Community Housing is not accepting walk-in rent payments at its offices. Tenants have five payment options: drop-box at their Superintendent's office or local Operating Unit office, mail, online banking, telebanking and pre-authorized payment.

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About Toronto Community Housing

Toronto Community Housing (www.torontohousing.ca) is Canada's largest social housing provider. We provide homes for nearly 60,000 low- and moderate-income households in neighbourhoods across the city.

Media contact: media@torontohousing.ca | 647-293-5789