Homelessness Prevention Program

A Residential Services Home (RSH) is a facility that operates independently from the United Counties of Prescott and Russell.

For vulnerable adults who meet specific eligibility criteria, RSHs provide:

• safe and secure housing;
• nutritious meals;
• 24-hour supervision; and
• assistance with activities of daily living (e.g., personal care, daily routine planning).

Social Services has established agreements with certain RSHs. These make it possible to provide financial assistance to low-income individuals who are not eligible for long-term care services.

Eligibility Criteria for the Subsidy

To determine eligibility for the subsidy, three factors are assessed:

• Medical need;
• Financial need; and
• Appropriateness of placement in a RSH.

Additional Benefits

Individuals who qualify for the subsidy also receive a monthly personal needs allowance.

Depending on their situation, they may also have access to:

• incontinence supplies;
• vision care;
• reimbursement of medical transportation and parking costs; and
• other medical care or services.

How to Apply

To apply for a subsidy in a RSH with which an agreement is in place, please contact our office by:

• phone: 613-675-4661 or 1-800-677-6307; or
• email: [email protected].

Our team will be happy to answer your questions and guide you through the application process.

The By-Name Data (BND) is a real-time, strictly confidential list that identifies all individuals experiencing homelessness in the United Counties of Prescott and Russell.

The Homelessness Prevention and Support Team is responsible for managing the BND. This team provides outreach, case management, and community-based support services to individuals who are:

• experiencing homelessness; or
• at risk of losing their housing.

Definition of Homelessness

An individual aged 16 or older is considered to be experiencing homelessness if they are temporarily living in one of the following conditions within Prescott and Russell:

• Staying with friends or family;
• Residing in an emergency shelter or a shelter for individuals who have experienced abuse;
• Living in temporary accommodations, a tent, a shed, on the street, on a park bench, or in a vehicle; or
• Engaging in “couch surfing” (temporary stays with various people).

Referral to the Housing Prevention and Support Program Team

To be added to the BND, an individual must:

• be experiencing homelessness;
• provide consent to receive support services; and
• agree to have their name confidentially recorded in the registry.

Referrals are made to the Housing Prevention and Support Program Team, which provides ongoing support and facilitates access to appropriate services.

To obtain the BND Referral Form, please contact the team at the following email address: [email protected].

This type of assistance is designed to help individuals obtain and maintain housing, and it plays a key role in preventing and addressing homelessness.

The primary objectives of this assistance are to:

• help individuals secure housing;
• support individuals in maintaining their housing; and
• prevent and reduce homelessness.

Who Is Eligible for Assistance?

We may provide assistance to:

• individuals receiving social assistance who are at risk of losing their housing;
• individuals who are experiencing homelessness; and
• in certain cases, low-income individuals who do not receive social assistance.

The program provides financial support through Housing Assistance Funds.

Some exceptions may apply for low-income individuals who are not receiving social assistance, depending on their situation and eligibility.

Amount of Financial Assistance

The amount of assistance you may receive depends on:

• available funding;
• your application history (for example, whether you have received assistance in the past 12 months); and
• your eligibility, based on established priority criteria.

Types of Housing Assistance

Housing assistance may include:

• support to maintain housing;
• last month’s rent deposits to secure housing;
• rent and utility arrears (heating, electricity);
• storage and relocation costs;
• minor home repairs;
• repair or replacement of essential household appliances;
• other homelessness-related circumstances approved by a supervisor; and
• transportation costs to an emergency shelter.

Low-Income Individuals Not Receiving Social Assistance

Low-income individuals who do not receive social assistance may also have access to Housing Assistance Funds, provided their income does not exceed the established threshold.

In these situations, eligible expenses may include, but are not limited to:

• assistance related to obtaining or maintaining housing;
• certain essential costs recognized based on individual circumstances; and
• other expenses considered eligible within the context of homelessness prevention.

How to Apply or Get More Information

To learn more about eligibility criteria or to apply, please contact us by phone, at 613-675-4661 or at 1-800-667-6307 (toll-free).

For low-income individuals who are not receiving Ontario Works (OW) or benefits from the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP), please contact us by email, at [email protected].