Toronto Tenant Support Program (City-funded free legal help for renters)

Current City funding term runs April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2028.

The City funds free legal advice and representation for Toronto renters facing no-fault evictions (N12 or N13 notices), above-guideline rent increases or repair problems, delivered by the Canadian Centre for Housing Rights (CCHR), with tenant information from FMTA and CICS.

For: Tenants, tenant groups and tenant associations in private-market rental housing in Toronto; CCHR lawyers help renters in Toronto and York Region who meet CCHR's eligibility criteria.

Toronto · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

COSTI Immigrant Services - Hostel Services / Ralph Chiodo Family Reception Centre

Safe temporary accommodation plus intake assessment, legal/health/social referrals, housing assistance, community-integration activities and post-move support for refugee claimants, delivered in partnership with the City of Toronto and Region of Peel across several Toronto and Mississauga sites.

Toronto · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

Canadian Centre for Housing Rights (CCHR, formerly CERA)

Founded 1987 as the Centre for Equality Rights in Accommodation and renamed in 2022; provides free legal information and referrals to Ontario renters, legal advice/representation for Toronto and York Region tenants (evictions, rent increases, maintenance, rooming houses), and self-advocacy guidance on housing discrimination. Intake is by online form, response within 3 business days, no in-person meetings.

Ontario-wide · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

National Zakat Foundation (NZF) Canada

Local zakat charity (HQ Mississauga, 256 cities) whose caseworkers assess applications 1-on-1 and pay rent directly to landlords, bills directly to payees, and food/essentials via gift cards and vouchers; "NZF does not provide cash or bank deposits". Support runs 2-4 months; most applications processed within 7-10 days once documents are in, urgent cases faster; non-Muslims can be helped from non-zakat funds or referred. Also runs Feed Our Neighbours, House Our Neighbours, Medical Relief, New Roots (newcomers) and school-supply programs.

Canada-wide · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

Toronto Rent Bank (Neighbourhood Information Post, City of Toronto)

City-funded program led by Neighbourhood Information Post with nine local access centres: grants (not loans) of up to $5,000 for rental arrears, and deposit grants from $2,000 (bachelor) to $3,500 (3-bedroom); applications typically take five to seven business days.

Toronto · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

ACORN Toronto

Member-led organization of low- and moderate-income people; Toronto chapters (East York, Scarborough, Downtown, York West, Weston) run tenant meetings and campaigns on state-of-good-repair, affordable housing, childcare, EI and fair food access.

Toronto · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

COSTI Immigrant Services

Immigrant services agency (70+ years) offering settlement, employment, housing, English and skills training from 17 GTA offices, with staff speaking 60+ languages.

Toronto & GTA · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

City of Toronto Newcomer Services: settlement workers at City Hall and Newcomer Services Kiosks

Free, confidential help from settlement workers at City Hall and at kiosks in civic centres, community centres and employment offices: information on jobs, housing, health care, schools and City services, referrals, and help in your language.

For: Newcomers and all Toronto residents, regardless of immigration status; you will not be asked for proof of status.

Toronto · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Habitat for Humanity GTA

Affordable homeownership for working families across the GTA: no down payment (except a small one at 355 Coxwell), a first mortgage sized so housing costs start at no more than 32% of household income and a Habitat second mortgage bridging the gap; 600+ families housed in 26 communities since 1988 and 100,000+ volunteer hours a year.

Toronto · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

University of Toronto Housing Services (Student Life)

U of T's housing office: Off-Campus Housing Finder for rentals and roommates, URent workshops/modules/drop-ins on renting, temporary emergency housing support, SpacesShared home-sharing with older-adult hosts, annual housing fairs with property managers and legal resources, and residence-portal support. Office at 800 Bay St, 5th floor; weekdays 8:45-5 (Sept-June).

Toronto · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

Central Intake (City of Toronto emergency shelter line)

A City phone line, open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, that finds you an available emergency shelter bed or 24-hour respite space in Toronto and connects you to other help.

For: Anyone in Toronto who is homeless or has nowhere safe to sleep tonight; tell staff if you need space as a couple, accessibility supports or room for a pet.

Toronto · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Federation of Metro Tenants' Associations (FMTA) - Tenant Hotline

Free tenant-rights counselling hotline for Toronto tenants (weekdays 8:30-6, Saturdays 9-4) explaining what the law says and what options exist (not legal advice), plus an Outreach & Organizing team that helps tenants start building associations.

Toronto · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

Housing Help Centres (find yours on the City of Toronto Housing Help map)

Community agencies across Toronto that help renters find and keep housing, with help on housing applications, eviction prevention and free legal advice; the City's online map shows the ones near you.

For: Toronto renters and people looking for a place to rent who need help finding housing or are at risk of losing their home.

Toronto · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Landlord and Tenant Board (Tribunals Ontario)

Ontario's adjudicative tribunal for disputes between landlords and tenants (and co-op occupancy) under the Residential Tenancies Act; applications are filed through the Tribunals Ontario Portal. Process changes tied to RTA amendments took effect July 1 and September 21, 2026.

Ontario-wide · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

Legal Aid Ontario - Community Legal Clinics

Network of LAO-funded community legal clinics giving free legal help to low-income Ontarians on housing, income support, workers' rights, human rights and immigration; find yours by postal code.

Ontario-wide · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

Ontario Electricity Support Program (OESP)

Apply any time. The credit lasts 2 years before you must reapply, or 5 years if you are 65 or older or get a CPP disability pension.

A monthly credit taken right off your electricity bill for lower-income households, usually $35 to $75 a month, or $52 to $113 for Indigenous households, homes heated by electricity, and people using certain electricity-intensive medical devices.

For: Ontario households with after-tax income up to $38,000 for 1 person, $54,000 for 2 people, $65,000 for 3 or 4 people, or $71,000 for 5 to 7 people (full table on the Ontario Energy Board page); people on Ontario Works or ODSP qualify automatically.

Ontario-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Toronto Metropolitan University - Housing & Residence Life (Off-Campus Housing Office)

TMU's housing department: on-campus residence, summer housing for students and groups, and an Off-Campus Housing Office (Pitman Hall, 160 Mutual St) that helps with 'finding a place', 'living in a place' and 'moving out of a place'.

Toronto · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

Canada-Ontario Housing Benefit (COHB) - City of Toronto

Federal-provincial rent supplement paid to households renting in the private market. In Toronto it is not open to the public: households must be on or eligible for the Centralized Waiting List, be referred by an approved community partner agency during referral windows, agree to leave the waiting list if approved, and fit an annual enrolment cap set by the province.

Toronto · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

Eviction Prevention in the Community (EPIC), City of Toronto

A City program where a caseworker helps a low-income household that is about to be evicted make an urgent plan, apply for money supports and connect to legal, housing and health help so they can keep their home.

For: Low-income households in Toronto at immediate risk of eviction; you must be referred by a partner such as a Housing Help Centre, a community legal clinic, the Toronto Rent Bank, City shelter services or your landlord.

Toronto · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP)

Ontario income support for people with disabilities: "money to help you and your eligible family members with living expenses" including food and rent, plus prescription drug and vision benefits, with employment supports through Employment Ontario. A single person can get up to $1,436 a month for basic needs and shelter after the July 2026 rate increase; families and people with extra needs get more.

Ontario-wide · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

Tenant Duty Counsel Program (ACTO, funded by Legal Aid Ontario)

Sign up as soon as you get your Notice of Hearing, before the hearing date.

Free legal advice, by phone or online, for tenants who have a Landlord and Tenant Board hearing and no lawyer, given before or on the day of the hearing.

For: Tenants in Toronto and the rest of Ontario who have received a Notice of Hearing from the Landlord and Tenant Board and have no lawyer or paralegal; priority goes to tenants facing eviction.

Ontario-wide · checked 2 October 2026 · everything we know

Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC)

Largest social housing provider in Canada and second largest in North America, wholly owned by the City of Toronto; about 92,000 residents in 41,000+ low- and moderate-income households across 106 of Toronto's 158 neighbourhoods; 90% of households pay rent-geared-to-income. Units are allocated through the City's centralized waiting list (MyAccesstoHousingTO).

Toronto · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know

City of Toronto - Access to Housing / MyAccesstoHousingTO (Rent-Geared-to-Income centralized waiting list)

The City's centralized application system for rent-geared-to-income housing: register or create an RGI application on MyAccesstoHousingTO, get help from the Application Support Centre, and attend free help sessions run with agencies such as COSTI, Unison, Margaret's Housing Help Centre, East York Housing Hub, Albion Neighbourhood Services and Agincourt Community Services.

Toronto · checked 30 September 2026 · everything we know