Changes to the Rainbow Housing Co-operative Housing Charge Assistance Policy were passed at a General Membership Meeting, December 7, 1993 and were effective retroactive to December 1, 1993. Phase I and Phase II of the Housing Charge Assistance Policy were amalgamated at that time.
All applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:
a) Only applicants for whom the breakeven housing charge (excluding utilities) equals more than 25% of their adjusted gross monthly household income are eligible for housing charge assistance.
b) A household must require a minimum of $20.00 per month in housing charge assistance to be eligible.
c) Members may not receive assistance greater than that necessary to reduce their housing charge to an amount equivalent to 25% of their adjusted gross monthly household income.
d) The maximum housing charge assistance applicable to each household may be increased or decreased at the discretion of the Board depending on the subsidy reserves available and other financial considerations.
For the purposes of setting assisted housing charges, the federal definition of income shall be used (see Appendix I).
a) Members receiving housing charge assistance shall provide the Co-op with a signed declaration of gross income, assets and household size and composition, every six months. Each member shall promptly report to the Co-op, in writing, any change in any of the information given.
b) Special consideration can be awarded for member(s) whose income fluctuates over one year from one subsidy period to the next subsidy period making it difficult to qualify for one six month period and over qualifying for the next period or vice versa. Such a member can apply to the Board of Directors for special consideration for annual income averaging to qualify for the subsidies available for six month terms. The member(s) must provide an undertaking and be able to repay any overpayment in their subsidy award after a review of their eligibility status at the end of one year.
In addition to the six-month renewal, all income changes (increases or decreases) must be reported immediately at any point in the year. In the case of a decrease in income, if the co-op has sufficient subsidy funds, the housing charge assistance shall be adjusted for the next pay period. In the case of an increase in income, the co-op shall adjust the housing charge assistance for the next pay period. Failure to report changes leaves the member open to termination of subsidy allocation and possible eviction. Payback of subsidy over-allocation is mandatory.
5. Utility Costs
The housing charge of members receiving housing charge assistance shall be based on “fully serviced” accommodation.
6. Waiting Lists
a) Internal Waiting List
A waiting list will be established consisting of Co-op members who meet the eligibility requirements set out in paragraph
1. Priority for allocation of assistance (both permanent and emergency) will be based on date of application.
The internal waiting list for assistance shall take priority over the external waiting list.
b) External Waiting List
Separate waiting lists will be maintained for applicants requiring assistance. When housing charge assistance is available which is not required internally it will be offered to the first person on the waiting list.
a) Some assistance funds (at a level to be determined by the Board of Directors from time to time) will be reserved for short-term emergency allocation. Eligibility for emergency assistance will be restricted to those who, without assistance, would be paying more than 40% of their adjusted monthly household income on housing charges.
b) Except as provided in paragraph 9, emergency assistance shall be allocated to a household for a maximum of four months and shall only be reallocated to that household if there are no other applicants for emergency assistance.
c) Emergency assistance will be allocated to households already resident in the Co-op, except as provided in paragraph 8.
d) If a household on the waiting list for assistance is allocated emergency assistance, that household shall retain its place on the waiting list and will be allocated permanent assistance as soon as it becomes available. No emergency assistance will be allocated on a permanent basis except as provided in paragraph 8.
e) Households receiving emergency assistance are required to report promptly to the Co-op any increase in income. If a household ceases to be eligible for emergency assistance because of an increase in income, assistance will be withdrawn at the beginning of the month following the increase.
f) Members receiving emergency assistance must meet the eligibility requirements set out in paragraph 1.
In cases where a vacating member occupying a unit for the disabled was not receiving assistance, but the new member will require assistance, and no permanent assistance is available, emergency assistance may be allocated on an indefinite basis. In such cases, the member will be allocated permanent assistance as soon as it becomes available.
Where a household is discovered to have falsely declared its income, or to have failed to report an increase in income, it will be required, retroactively, to reimburse the Co-op for assistance funds allocated to its account unjustifiably. Interest may be assessed at a rate specified by the board. Where the household refuses to reimburse the Co-op, eviction proceedings will be initiated.
Where a household is being evicted, any assistance allocated will be terminated effective on the date at which the household is required to vacate its unit.
Members will not be permitted to assign or sublet their unit and continue to receive housing charge assistance while the unit is assigned or sublet. Thirty days prior to moving back into the Co-op, such members may complete the Co-op’s Housing Charge Assistance application form and provide updated proof of income. The member’s application will be processed and if eligible, the member will be placed on the subsidy waiting list.
a) Households applying for assistance must complete the Co-op’s Housing Charge Assistance application form and provide the required proof of income.
b) The Co-ordinator or other Co-op employee or volunteer designated by the Board will verify that the households applying qualify for assistance, administer the assistance waiting list(s), calculate the amount required by each applicant and make a recommendation to the Board. The Board will give final approval to all applications for assistance.
c) Housing charge assistance allocated to a household occupying a unit for the disabled shall not be allocated to applicants on the internal or external waiting list for assistance until it has been determined whether the next household to occupy the unit will require assistance. If assistance is not, required by that household, it shall be allocated to an applicant from the waiting list, according to the provisions of this Policy.