The following organizations are providing financial assistance for low-income households, artists and creatives in need of immediate rent and housing relief :

Actors Fund of Canada

The Actors Fund of Canada (AFC) is providing short-term emergency financial assistance for basic needs including rent or mortgage payments, food, utilities, phone bill, car payments, car, home insurance or medical expenses. This assistance is based on immediate financial needs.

Akin Rent Relief Fund

The Akin Rent Relief Fund has been established in collaboration with Rania El Mugammar to provide current Akin artists and creatives with anonymous, one-time emergency grants to provide short-term financial aid in unexpected situations or times of financial instability.

City of Toronto and Toronto Community Housing

The City is working to enhance and expand financial support to help tenants maintain their homes. Toronto Community Housing is providing support for both market-rent and rent-geared-to-income tenants. Follow the City of Toronto link for resource grants such as the Money for Emergency Housing Needs and Interest-Free Loans for Low-Income Households. 

Red Cross Community Housing Support 

The Housing Support Program provides one-time financial assistance to families or individuals who are living in poverty or at risk of becoming homeless.

The Salvation Army

(London, Ontario)

The Housing Stability Bank offers financial assistance to low-income and at-risk Londoners to obtain and retain their housing.

Toronto Rent Bank 

Eligible households facing eviction may access one-time interest-free loans for overdue rent. Limited funding for Emergency Rental Deposit Loans is available for low-income households requiring first and last month’s rent to move into more affordable and stable housing. Those receiving social assistance or living in rent-geared-to-income housing are not eligible for Rent Bank services at this time.

211 Ontario

211 Ontario hotline provides information on rent relief as well as social, health and government services.

Mortgage Payment Deferrals

Canada’s six big banks (BMO, CBC, National Bank, RBC, Scotiabank and TD) jointly announced a plan to allow mortgage payment deferrals up to 6-months to help customers struggling with the financial impacts of COVID-19. It is important to note that deferred mortgage payments are typically added back to the mortgage amount, meaning borrowers are simply postponing — not skipping — payments. Interest on outstanding balances continues to accrue.

The lender is allowing a payment deferral and your mortgage/loan will not be deemed in default. Other possible solutions include allowing borrowers to defer or temporarily reduce payments, stretching out the mortgage term or amortization period, adding missed payments back onto the mortgages, and lowering the mortgage rate.

If you are seeking some relief from the financial responsibility of home-ownership, call your lender to explore this option further.

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