For Immediate Release
April 03, 2006

MCGUINTY GOVERNMENT HELPS LOW-INCOME TENANTS IN KINGSTON
Additional Investment In Rent Banks Helps Seniors And Vulnerable Ontarians Avoid Losing Their Homes

KINGSTON– The McGuinty government is helping low-income tenants with short-term rent arrears stay in their homes by allocating $72,761 to the rent bank program in Kingston announced MPP and Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing John Gerretsen.

“Our provincial rent bank program has assisted thousands of low-income tenants to avoid eviction and remain in their homes,” said Gerretsen “By providing more funding to this important program, we’re helping to ensure the housing stability of more tenants in our community who are at risk of homelessness.”

The $72,761 allocation to the City of Kingston is part of $4 million in funding distributed today among rent banks across Ontario.

The rent bank program promotes housing stability by assisting low-income tenants to avoid eviction for non-payment of rent, as short-term arrears is the most common reason tenants lose their homes and end up in shelters. 

Tenants with lower incomes may apply to the City of Kingston rent bank to receive short-term financial assistance to address rent arrears.  If a tenant’s application to a rent bank is approved, the outstanding rent is paid directly to the landlord on behalf of the tenant.

Tenants can apply for financial assistance from a rent bank no more than once in two years, and receive maximum assistance for two months’ rental arrears.

Since 2004 when the program began with an initial allocation of $10 million distributed among municipalities in Ontario, 4,177 households have received assistance and avoided eviction.

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For more information contact:
John Gerretsen, MPP
(613) 547-2385