The waiting list for affordable housing units operated by Peterborough Housing Corporation (PHC) will be provided through Housing Access Peterborough, a City of Peterborough Social Services program starting Wednesday.
PHC, the City’s affordable housing agency, had previously operated the waiting list for Affordable Housing and the City’s Social Services Division, through its Housing Access Peterborough (HAP) program, operated the waiting list for Rent-Geared to-Income (RGI) housing according to a press release.
Affordable Housing units feature rents established between 80 per cent and 100 per cent of Average Market Rents. Rent-Geared-Income housing refers to a housing program regulated by provincial legislation where rent is capped at 30 per cent of a tenant’s income.
Peterborough Housing Corporation and 14 non-profit housing providers together operate about 2,000 affordable housing units, including about 1,500 rent-geared-to-income units. There are currently more than 2,000 applicants on the waitlist for RGI housing.
“Bringing together the affordable housing and RGI waitlists, through Housing Access Peterborough, will make it easier for people to apply for housing services through the Housing Access Peterborough website, find information or seek assistance at a single location,” said Councillor Keith Riel.
Prospective applicants for affordable housing can submit their application online through the HAP website or pick up paper application forms at the Housing Access Peterborough office at 178 Charlotte St. in Peterborough.
As the Service Manager for the City and County, the City of Peterborough administers the Centralized Housing Waitlist for Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) housing. PHC previously managed access to affordable housing units through a separate application process. Applicants who were on the affordable housing waitlist with PHC prior to Wednesday and those on the RGI centralized waitlist have been given the opportunity for priority placement on this new waitlist.
The City says the units provide safe, decent and reasonably priced housing options for individuals and families with low to moderate incomes. They add that they are also designed to ensure that people from a wide range of economic backgrounds can access housing without experiencing financial hardship or housing instability.