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6 20 1 6 WA I T I NG L I S T S S URV E Y R E POR T
It played a prominent role in the recent federal
and provincial elections 11 and has received
extensive coverage in national and local media.
Governments have since made measurable
commitments to affordable housing, for which
they can be held accountable. In 2015, the
Ontario Government committed to a Housing
and Homelessness Data Strategy to gather
evidence to shape policy decisions. Service
managers must report to municipal and
regional councils on the demand for housing
and homelessness services in their area and
their solutions, ensuring transparency12. And
at the national level, the return of the long-
form census will provide data on important
indicators, such as Core Housing Need13,
that will measure housing affordability in
communities across Canada.
These are positive developments. To meet
the growing demand for affordable housing,
decision makers must have flexibility and
options that allow them to respond to
different circumstances. Local reporting and
data collection will keep discussions about
affordable rental housing relevant to Ontarians
and place pressure on all levels of government
to respond the needs of their constituents.
Going forward, ONPHA will continue to
support the development of evidence-
based housing policy and the growth and
sustainability of the new non-profit housing
sector.
11. Increasing access to affordable rental housing was a key part of both the Liberal Party and the New Democrat Party’s federal election platforms,
both of which committed to funding the creation of new units and supporting the non-profit and co-operative housing sectors. The 2016 federal and
provincial budgets both included commitments to funding housing and homelessness solutions, and the federal government has promised to develop
a National Housing Strategy.
12. Ontario Regulation 367/11 of the Housing Services Act, 2011 sets out the requirements for service managers’ housing and homelessness plans, which
must be approved by Council. These requirements include “an assessment of the current and future housing need within the service manager’s ser-
vice area” and “objectives and targets relating to the housing need.” As waiting lists for RGI assistance are one of the indicators of local demand for
housing assistance, these figures are included in housing and homelessness plans.
13. “A household is said to be in Core Housing Need if its housing falls below at least one of the adequacy, affordability or suitability, standards and it
would have to spend 30% or more of its total before-tax income to pay the median rent of alternative local housing that is acceptable (meets all
three housing standards).” CMHC, Housing in Canada Online: Definitions,” Available at:
HOW WAITING LISTS WORK
When a household applies for RGI assistance in their community, their income must be low
enough to qualify for a subsidy. Once their housing application is approved, they are placed
on a waiting list, where they are classified based on what size and type of unit they are waiting
for. Seniors may be waiting for a unit in a seniors-only building, while families are eligible for
units with multiple bedrooms depending on the number of children they have.
Households with special needs may be eligible for a modified or accessible unit. Most
households are waiting on a first-come, first-serve basis, though some have a priority
designation due to their unique circumstances (such as for households fleeing domestic
violence or experiencing homelessness). In order to remain active on the waiting list,
applicants have to update their application regularly and provide notice of any changes in
income or household size.