Housing Programs and Services

This benefit is not available to the general public.

COHB is referral based program based on direct identification from the Service Manager as per Provincial program guidelines. If you have been deemed eligible for COHB, you will be contacted by the Housing Access Centre, or its partner agency, inviting you to apply for the program.

For the City of London and Middlesex County, COHB is intended to support the following priority populations:

• Survivors of domestic violence or human trafficking;
• Homeless or at risk of entering unsheltered homelessness; and,
• Indigenous persons.

For more information about COHB, please review the full report to London City Council.

The COHB is calculated by using a variety of factors: Income, average market rent, family size, apartment size and support from social assistance.

Based on average income for households waiting for one bedroom units, the COHB monthly subsidy may range from $300 - $500 per month. Once again, this is an approximate amount.

Applicants that are eligible for COHB will be directed to call the Housing Access Centre at 519-661-0861 or by email hac@london.ca.

Once the application has been processed by the Service Manager, the application will be sent to Ontario’s Ministry of Finance (MOF) to approve the applicant’s eligibility and issue monthly payments directly to the household.

Once the COHB recipients have been approved by MOF, ServiceOntario will be the point of contact for ongoing program management.  MOF will contact the applicant directly to inform them that their application has been approved.

All questions with regards to the status of a COHB application should be directed to MOF:   1-888-544-5101 or 1 800 263-7776 (TTY)

Q:  What types of spends are considered Capital versus Operating?

A:  Capital expenses are list investments into the future. Examples of capital expenses might include the purchase of new equipment, or repairs and maintenance that extend the useful life of an asset.  Operating expenses are the day-to-day spends required to keep the business running. Examples of operating expenses include recurring annual repair costs, small maintenance jobs, routine landscaping etc.

Q:  Why do I need to submit a 3-year capital plan if only the first year is being evaluated for funding?

A:  A 3-year capital plan offers a more practical approach to capital planning such that you may find that trying to fit everything into year one may not be feasible and thus some items would be delayed to later years. A 3-year plan also allows the Housing Division to better understand the important and relative priority of each investment that is being considered.

Q:  How many quotes do I need to get for each project?

A:  For projects expected to cost more than $15,000, we recommend getting three quotes for each project. This allows for competitive pricing and service. If you cannot obtain three quotes, please document your rationale for note being able to obtain three quotes.  Quotes should be obtained from reputable and qualified contractors. Ask your colleagues for referrals and/or research the contractor's reviews. Quotes from reputable contractors should be detailed and contain an HST number.

Q:  Do I need to get quotes for all three years?

A:  Quotes are expected for all year one investments. Quotes are not expected for years two and three, but it is recommended that you use the best estimate available. For example, you might reference previous quotes or estimates in the Building Condition Assessment (BCA) report.

Q:  Which contractor's quote should I use for the year one of capital planning spreadsheet?

A:  You are not obligated to select the lowest quote, but you should justify why you've chosen a particular contractor (i.e. value for money, time to complete, etc.)

Q:  What should be provided to the contractor when asking for a quote?

A:  This will depend on the complexity of the project. At minimum, we suggest that following information be provided:

•  Project specifications such as details around what needs to be completed, minimum level of quality or specific products to be provided, what needs to be inspected and what existing fixtures need to be protected.
• Timeline for when you would like the project started.

Q:  What should I look for in a completed quote from a contractor?

A:  The level of information provided through quotes may vary by contractor, but the following items are important:

• A detailed description of the scope of work;
• Project start date and estimated completion date;
• Warranties re: workmanship and products;
• Registered HST number;
• Confirmation that the contractor has provided cost based on specifications or clarity on comparable alternatives and 
• Proposed payments terms.

Q:  What if I have previously submitted a multi-year plan, do I need to resubmit the year two and three asks?

A:  On applications where project submissions for year two and three have been approved, a re-submission of application in those funding years in not required. However, updated and valid quotes and possible financials will need to be provided before final consideration of during can be approved in those years.

Q:  Can Engineering or Project Management costs be included for consideration on funding application?

A:  For larger scope projects, Engineering and/or Project Management costs can be included in application for funding, however; the housing provider must take into consideration the timeline implications and project(s) completion deadline.

Q:  How do I know if I should hire a project manager?

A:  Project managers generally have some specialized expertise and are responsible for planning/overseeing projects to ensure they are completed in a timely fashion and within budget. For larger scope projects where a housing provider may require specific industry knowledge or where they feel the property manager will be ill-equipped to manage the added tasks associated with project oversight, it may be warranted to seek project management services. The City of London housing division will be reviewing the letters of intent and may suggest inclusion of project management services if not already identified.