Subsidized rent or Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI)

Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI), or subsidized housing, is made available by the City of Toronto to make rent affordable for households. There is a waiting list managed by the City of Toronto.

On this page

    How to Apply

    If you are interested in applying for rent-geared-to-income, you must apply through the Rent-Geared-To-Income Subsidy Program at the City of Toronto. 

    If you’re looking for information regarding taxes, visit the Tax Information page.

    2023 Applications

    If you have an existing RGI application and have not yet registered your application in MyAccesstoHousingTO, you must do so by January 31, 2024. If you need assistance with registration, go to Help for RGI Applicants.

    *If you have an existing application and have not received a code, call the Application Support Centre at 416-338-8888 or book an appointment at the Access to Housing Resource Centre.  

    If you need assistance with your MyAccesstoHousingTO application, the City of Toronto will provide you with support. The Access to Housing Resource Centre or a local Housing Help Centre can help you:

    • apply for Rent-Geared-to-Income housing
    • view and select housing options
    • update your existing application
    • access other housing options, or keep your existing housing and avoid eviction

    Learn more at Help for Rent-Geared-to-Income Applicants – City of Toronto.

    Eligibility

    The Housing Services Act sets out rules about who is eligible for RGI assistance. To be eligible to apply for RGI assistance or continue to receive RGI assistance, at least one household member must meet the following two conditions:  

    • 16 years of age or older  
    • Can live independently, with or without support services  

    Every member of the household must be one of the following:  

    • Canadian citizen  
    • Either a permanent resident of Canada or has applied for permanent resident status  
    • A refugee claimant or Convention refugee  

    In addition, the following conditions related to status in Canada must also apply:  

    • A removal order has not become enforceable against any member of a household.  
    • A household is not eligible for RGI assistance if it includes a visa holder. However, an exception is a household containing a visa holder from whom Immigration Canada has accepted an application for permanent resident status.  

    For a list of acceptable Canadian Status documentation, refer to the Access to Housing website. 

    The following requirements for the household also apply:  

    • No member of the household owes arrears, for example, money for rent or damage, from a former tenancy to a social housing provider in Ontario unless any of these cases apply:  
      • A member of the household has signed and is complying with an agreement to pay the money owing.*  
      • A member of the household has made reasonable efforts to enter into a repayment agreement.  
    • No member of the household has had an RGI-related conviction in the last two years. (A conviction must result from a prosecution in a court of law.)