Housing Programs

Homeownership Program

Home ownership Is a down payment assistance of 5% loans available to those with an annual income of $50,000.00 or less wanting to purchase a home valued less than $165,00.00 in Bruce County. The assistance is in the form of a forgivable loan when owned for at least 20 years.

For further details on this program download the application in "Downloads / Files" section (right hand sidebar).

Home Repair Program

The Bruce County Home Repair Program is designed to improve the living conditions of low to moderate households in need. It offers financial assistance to complete home repair deficiencies, energy-efficiency upgrades and accessibility upgrades for persons with disabilities.

This program will be administered through the Housing Division of Bruce County.

The program provides assistance in the form of a forgiveable loan for home repairs to a maximum of $9,000 per household. The program also provides assistance in the form of a grant for accessibility upgrades under $3,500.

The Home Repair Program for 2013-14 begins April 2, 2013.

Bruce County Home Repair Program Guidelines

Home Repair: Application

 Who is eligible?

You may be eligible if your total household income is at or below $40,000, and own a home in Bruce County that is your sole and principal residence with a market value of $200,000 or below. All property taxes and mortgage payments must be up to date and insurance coverage in place for the full value of the home. Your home must be in need of repair, energy or accessibility upgrades.

How much financial assistance can I receive?

Funding for accessibility upgrades, up to a maximum of $3,500 is in the form of grant, and does not require repayment. Funding for standard repairs for homeowners will be in the form of a 10-year forgivable loan. The maximum amount is $9,000 and will be secured by a promissory note provided by the County of Bruce.

What types of repairs can be done?

Eligible repairs under the Home Repair Program may include major repairs and rehabilitation required to make your home safe while improving energy efficiency. Examples include, but are not limited to:

• Heating systems including furnace replacement
• Chimneys
• Foundations
• Roofs Vents, louvers
• Electrical systems
• Plumbing, toilet replacement, water heaters
• Septic systems and well water, well drilling

Modifications to increase accessibility related to housing and to the occupant's disability include, but are not limited to:

• Ramps
• Handrails
• Chair and bath lifts
• Height adjustments to countertops
• Bathroom renovations

How do I apply?

Applications and additional information are available by contacting Bruce County Housing at 519.396.3439 or 1-800-265-3022 during regular business hours Monday thru Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

Housing Stability Fund

Bruce County Housing Stability Fund Application (PDF Download)

It may take up to five (5) business days to process a complete application with all documents included .

Please apply in advance of when assistance is needed.

All payments are made directly to vendors(landlord, utility company, moving company).  We are not able to reimburse applicants after they have paid.

•  WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO APPLY? 
• Ontario Works clients  or Ontario Disability clients
• Low income non social assistance persons with maximum net income (minus IT, EI, CPP) yearly as follows:     
  • single/couple - $15,900
  • family with 1 dependent - $19,200
  • family with 2 dependents - $21,900
  • family with 3 or more dependents - $25,800 
•  WHO ISN’T ELIGIBLE TO APPLY?
  • Tenants receiving a rent subsidy when living in rent geared to income housing (BCHC) non profits and rent supplement private landlord program. Except in approved cases where moving expenses are required for start of new employment, increased accessibility or moving from unsafe living conditions. 
•  HOW TO APPLY?
  • OW/ODSP Clients:  mail, fax or bring application to Social Services office, 30 Park St Walkerton, phone no.  519- 881-0431, 1-800-265-3005, fax  519-881-4324 
  • Non Social Assistance Clients: mail, fax or bring application to Housing office, 325 Lambton St. Kincardine, phone no. 519-396-3439, 1-800-265-3022, fax 519-396-3499 
• WHAT IS ELIGIBLE?  
  • All application funding requests will be assessed for their long term sustainability of permanent affordable housing.  
    • To FIND Affordable Housing
      • RENT – 1^st and / or last
      • UTILITY DEPOSIT if required
      • MOVING EXPENSES – only for employment, accessibility needs or unsafe living
    • To MAINTAIN Affordable Housing
      • RENT ARREARS
      • UTILITY ARREARS

Investment in Affordable Housing Program for Bruce County

Bruce County has received funding from the federal and provincial governments for the Investment in Affordable Housing Program of $1.8 million dollars for 3 years ending March 2015.

Housing for all

Click here for the Housing for all e-newsletter.

Rent Supplement Program

Is subsidized rental units with participating private landlords throughout the County for a period of up to 3 years.

Rental Housing Program

Includes 10 new affordable units in Kincardine and Port Elgin.  Construction will begin in 2012 in Port Elgin and 2013 in Kincardine

More details can be obtained by calling Susan Earle at 519-396-3450 X106 or searle@brucecounty.on.ca or Millie Hetsler at 519-396-3450 X107 or mhetsler@brucecounty.on.ca

Bruce County Housing Corporation

Bruce County Housing Corporation (BCHC) was created in January 2001. BCHC is an amalgamation of Bruce County Non-Profit Corporation that was created by the County of Bruce in 1982 and Bruce County Housing Authority that was incorporated in 1976 and transferred from the Province to the County on January 1, 2001.

We provide housing to families, seniors, couples, single people and people with special needs in a variety of housing forms including townhouses, apartments, single and semi-detached dwellings. Most of the housing is available on a rent-geared-to-income basis, however some projects offer market rent units. We currently own and manage 605 units throughout Bruce County. We also administer the Rent Supplement Program which provides subsidy for approximately 50 units in privately owned buildings. Tenants for these units are selected from the Bruce County Community Housing Registry waiting list and pay the landlord based on their income. BCHC pays the difference between the tenant's portion and the full market rent for the unit.

 How much will I pay?

If you qualify for a subsidized unit the rent is based on 30% of your gross monthly income. Market rent units are also available in most locations.

Rent-Geared-To-Income

Rent is calculated based on 30% of the gross household income to a maximum of the established "market rent" for the unit in the development in which you will reside. Rent for those persons in receipt of social assistance from Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support is in accordance with a scale established in the Social Housing Reform Act, 2000, Ontario Regulation 298/01 and may be changed periodically.

Market Rent Value

Some market rent units are available in Bruce County Housing Corporation buildings as well as the private non-profit housing developments. The rent is similar to the private sector rental properties. Applications for market rent units must be made directly with the applicable housing provider. A listing of the market rents for each municipality is available under the report section "Market Rents".

Affordable Rent

The affordable rent is set at a rate below the average market rent for Bruce County (approximately 80% of the average market rent). Tenants must meet the eligibility criteria of the program at the time of move in based on the unit bedroom size.  The affordable rent of each tenant will be increased annually by the rate approved by the Bruce County Housing Corporation Board as per the allowable rent increase guidelines.

Links:

South West Community Care Access Centre www.ccac-ont.ca

VON Grey-Bruce www.von.ca