Housing & Homelessness

Housing & Homelessness Services

We provide a range of administrative, support, and funding services that contribute to affordable housing options in Huron County. Our programs allow seniors to stay in their home community, offer affordable housing options to low-income families, and give disabled people independence in a safe and secure environment.

Addressing the root causes of homelessness is essential to creating a more equitable and resilient community where everyone belongs.

The work we do:

  • Promotes equity, dignity, and respect.
  • Reduces barriers to life stabilizing resources and programs.
  • Helps individuals navigate a complex social support system.
  • Provides high-quality, caring, and responsible solutions that benefit the whole community.

We're Building More Affordable Housing

Learn more about the affordable housing developments currently underway at the County of Huron!

Be Part of the Solution

Learn more about what the County of Huron and our partners are doing to prevent and address homelessness and what you can do to help!

Tenant Services

County View Seniors' Apartments

County View Seniors' Apartment

County View Senior’s Apartments

In partnership with the Canada-Ontario Affordable Housing Program, the County of Huron built an apartment building for seniors known as County View Seniors’ Apartments.

This three storey 31 unit apartment building (19 one bedroom & 12 two bedroom units) is located just south of Clinton. It’s situated on 13 acres of well-manicured grounds. The site features:

  • Quiet rural setting
  • Fully landscaped site
  • On-site tenant parking lot
  • Solar domestic hot water preheat
  • Paved pathways throughout the complex

Seniors applying for housing at this facility must be 60 years of age or older.

Each spacious 1 and 2 bedroom seniors’ apartment contains:

  • Full-size top mount refrigerator and electric range
  • Individually controlled hot water heating and air conditioning
  • Dedicated power chair receptacles

Suite A: One Bedroom

The 2025 monthly rental rate for 1 bedroom unit is $600.00 plus electricity.

Suite B: Two bedroom

The 2025monthly rental rate for 2 bedroom unit is $812.00 plus electricity.

Sustainability

Green energy initiatives throughout the building have been funded by a Renewable Energy Initiative program. Additional building features include:

  • Controlled security access
  • Coin operated common laundry facility
  • Common lounge for use by all tenants
  • Elevator access to all floors
  • Occupant sensors to reduce lighting demand in vacant corridors

Apply to County View Seniors’ Apartments

Applications are available here, by calling the Huron County Housing Services at 519.482.8505, ext. 4252, or at the Social Services office, located in the Jacob Memorial Building, 77722D London Road, Clinton.

Completed applications must be submitted to the Huron County Housing Services.

Sanders Street Apartments

In partnership with the Canada-Ontario Community Housing Initiative, the County of Huron has opened a new apartment building in the heart of Exeter.  The 2-story building features 20 one-bedroom units, of which 7 are fully accessible.  The building is situated on an existing Huron County Housing Corporation property, tucked away into a quiet neighbourhood.

Current rental rate is $763 plus electricity.

Applications are available here, by calling the Huron County Housing Services at 519.482.8505, ext. 4252, or at the Social Services office, located in the Jacob Memorial Building, 77722D London Road, Clinton.

Completed applications must be submitted to the Huron County Housing Services.

Non-Profit Housing

Non-profit and Co-operative housing units which provide rent-geared-to-income and market rent housing for families, singles or seniors are available from:

  • Belmore Non-Profit Housing Corporation (Belmore)
  • Huron Sands Non-Profit Homes Incorporated (Goderich)
  • Vanastra Lions Club Apartments Incorporated (Clinton)
  • Exandarea Meadows Housing Co-operative Incorporated (Exeter)
  • Second Stage Housing for Victims of Domestic Violence (Clinton, Goderich, Exeter)
Second Stage Housing

Women’s Shelter, Second Stage Housing and Counselling Services of Huron provides housing for women and children who are victims of family violence. Second Stage housing provides rent-geared-to-income apartments in a secure building for women, with or without children, for up to one year. Units include fridge and stove, 1, 2, or 3 bedrooms, and on-site laundry facilities are available.

Women who have identified themselves as survivors of abuse whether physical, emotional, sexual or verbal are eligible to apply. Applicants must be either self-referred, residents of a shelter for abused women, or referred by a professional in the community.

Applications are available at Second Stage Housing in Clinton, Exeter and Goderich, plus the Women’s Shelter of Huron located at 376 Huron Road in Goderich. An interview is required to assess the applicant’s needs and the ability to meet these needs; applications are then reviewed by the Admissions Committee. Upon acceptance to Second Stage Housing, women will be required to sign an occupancy contract.

Additional information may be obtained by contacting:

Huron Women’s Shelter

Telephone: 519.524.5333

Transition Support Worker or Children’s Community Social Worker

Telephone: 519.524.1620

Social Housing

There are several hundred rent-geared-to-income (RGI) apartments and houses located throughout the county. Huron County’s Housing Services provide housing to families, seniors, couples, single people and people with special needs in a variety of housing forms including townhouses, apartments as well as single and semi-detached dwellings.

Housing units vary in size from bachelor apartments to four bedroom houses. Some units are accessible for the physically disabled.  Indiviudals must meet income and asset limits.

The County of Huron owns and manages 415 rent-geared-to-income units through the Huron County Housing Corporation and has additional units available through Rent Supplement agreements with private landlords. The remaining rent-geared-to-income units are owned and managed by various Non-Profit and Co-operative groups.

Social Housing units are located in Bayfield, Blyth, Brussels, Clinton, Exeter, Goderich, Seaforth, Wingham and Zurich.

You can apply for the following RGI rental units through the County of Huron’s Social Housing Department.

 

Address Town Bachelor One bedroom Two bedrooms Three bedrooms Four bedrooms
Family Units Clinton 12
Family Units Goderich 35 24 3
Family Units Wingham 4 6
9 Jane St. Bayfield 17
299 Queen Blyth 24
400 Alexander Brussels 34
134 King Clinton 19
135 James Clinton 18
134 Sanders Exeter 32
250 Picton Goderich 6 6
85 West Goderich 53 1
50 Market Seaforth 21
34 John Seaforth 16
45 Alfred Wingham 28
50 Alfred Wingham 4 5
359 Edward Wingham 7 4
52 Bristol Wingham 16
31 Main Zurich 20
Subsidized Housing

Subsidized housing, or rent-geared-to-income (RGI) assistance, is available for eligible households.

RGI assistance means the amount of rent you pay is determined by your income; rent amounts are based on paying approximately 30% of your gross (before taxes) monthly household income. For example, if your household members make $1500 a month combined, your basic subsidized rent might be about $500 with adjustments for utilities.

The amount of rent paid by Ontario Works/Ontario Disability Support Program recipients is determined by a scale provided by Ontario’s Ministry of Community and Social Services in accordance with the Housing Services Act, 2011.

To qualify for rent-geared-to-income assistance you must meet the following criteria:

  • You or someone in your household must be 16 years old or older and capable of living independently.
  • Each member of the household must be a Canadian Citizen / Permanent Resident / or have made a claim for refugee protection under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (Canada) and no removal orders have become enforceable against any member of the household.
  • You must not owe arrears for rent or damages to any social housing provider or have been found by the Rental Housing Tribunal or a court of law to have misrepresented income in relation to the receipt of rent geared-to-income assistance.
  • You must not owe arrears to any social housing provider, or have been found by the Landlord and Tenant Board or a court of law to have misrepresented income in relation to the receipt of rent geared-to-income assistance.
  • If you own a house, you must agree to put it up for sale upon offer to lease and sell within six months.

Eligibility for rent-geared-to-income assistance varies from household to household, please contact County of Huron Housing Services to see if you qualify.

Applying for Subsidized Housing: Application for Rent-Geared-to-Income Housing

Applying for Subsidized Housing

To apply for rent-geared-to-income (RGI) assistance you must complete an application form, or by contacting County of Huron Housing Services.

Upon verification of eligibility for rent-geared-to-income assistance, your application will be added to a Centralized Waiting List of social housing providers within the county in chronological order of receipt.

Offers of housing will be made keeping in mind the household’s preference for a particular site or area when the application reaches the top of the list.

Effective January 1, 2021 Applicants are entitled to ONE (1) housing offer. If the offer is refused, the file will be cancelled. Failure to respond to a housing offer shall be considered a refusal.

Applications to live in a County-owned, rent-geared-to-income, rent supplement unit, or units owned by the following provider groups: Belmore, Huron Sands, Vanastra and Exandarea Meadows, must be made through the Huron County Housing Services office.

Verification Requirements

In order to process your application prior to lease signing, you will be required to supply copies of the following documents:

  • Verification of income for all household members
  • Income Tax Notice of Assessment (received back from Revenue Canada from previous year) for all household members. You may request a copy of your assessment from Revenue Canada by calling 1.800.959.8281
  • Verification of assets for all household members
  • School verification for all dependents 16 years of age and older may be requested
  • Family units must provide verification that utilities, in their name, have been connected
  • Copies of all support/custody agreements

Your lease agreement cannot be processed without all of the above documentation.

Where to Apply

The application has been made available below, or applications can be picked up at any of the following sites:

Huron County Housing Corporation

77722D London Road
Clinton, Ontario N0M 1L0
Tel: 519.482.8505

Belmore Non-Profit Housing Corporation

Box 122, RR 1
Wroxeter, Ontario N0G 2X0
Tel: 519.392.8117

Huron Sands Non-Profit Homes Incorporated

Unit 35-80 Balvina Drive
Goderich, Ontario N7A 4L8
Tel: 519.524.5763
Fax: 519.524.5767

Vanastra Lions Club Apartments Incorporated

198-12th Street, RR 5
Clinton, Ontario N0M 1L0
Tel: 519.482.7826
Fax: 519.482.7856

Exandarea Meadows Housing Co-operative Incorporated

1-51 Church Street
Exeter, Ontario N0M 1S2
Tel: 519.235.3382

Application:

Application for Rent-Geared-To-Income Housing.

* All completed applications must be submitted to the Huron County Housing Corporation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply for rent-geared-to-income housing?

An application form must be completed to apply for housing. Copies are available online or by contacting Huron County Housing Services. Upon verification of eligibility, your application will be added to our central waiting list.

How soon will I know if I am on the waiting list?

When your application is received, it will be reviewed to be sure that all required information is included. You will be notified in writing within ten business days as to whether you are eligible for geared-to-income assistance, or if additional information is needed for your application. If you are eligible, you will be told you are placed on the waiting lists for the locations you selected, and the number of bedrooms your household qualifies for.

What happens while I'm waiting for housing?

It is important that you keep your application up to date in order to stay on the centralized waiting list and maintain your eligibility status. You must report any changes to the information you previously submitted within 30 business days of the change taking place or your application can be cancelled and your name removed from the waiting list.

Can I refuse to accept a unit?

You can refuse to move into housing offered by Housing Services however, if one reasonable offers is refused, the household will be removed from the waiting list.

If I own my own home, do I still qualify?

If you own, or have a legal interest in a residential property that can be lived in year-round, you will be required to sell your interest in the property within six months after you have moved into geared-to-income assisted housing.

Landlord & Property Owner Services

Rent Supplement Program

The Rent Supplement Program offers private landlords the opportunity to play a role in the provision of social housing. This program offers eligible rent-geared-to-income (RGI) applicants accommodation. The tenant pays the rent based on his or her income and the landlord receives a supplement for the balance of the market rent. The landlord enters into a Rent Supplement agreement specifying that Housing Services will:

  • Refer potential RGI tenants to the landlord
  • Calculate the rent to be paid by the tenant to the landlord
  • Pay the rent supplement to the landlord

The landlord also completes the lease agreement with the tenant and the standard relationship between the landlord and tenant applies.

Homelessness Services

By-Name List

A By-Name List is a centralized list of all the people experiencing homelessness in a community.

Huron’s By-Name List is managed by County of Huron Social and Property Service staff and is regularly maintained by many community organizations.  It provides real-time data on those experiencing homelessness in the community at any given time.

Through this data collection process, staff become more aware of who and how many people in our community need supportive services. The process enables homelessness to be tracked to see if it is growing or shrinking over time.

When an individual is added to the By-Name List, they may be asked to disclose personal information, such as:

  • Your current location;
  • Age and gender;
  • Family status (single, married, with children etc);
  • Any health concerns that may effect housing;
  • If you currently have access to temporary shelter;
  • For how long, or how often you have experienced homelessness;
  • And more.

All information on the By-Name List is completely confidential.

To be added to the By-Name List, call 519.482.8505 Ext. 2299 
Offices are open from Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

How a By-Name List Helps Communities End Homelessness

 

Coordinated Access System

Utilizing the data collected from the By-Name List, County of Huron staff lead the Huron County Homelessness Coordinated Access System. This system ensures that local organizations can better work together to effectively address the specific needs of those experiencing homelessness within the community.

Coordinated Access System in Action

Bridge Housing and Stability Program

Huron’s Bridge Housing and Stability program is managed in a partnership with the County of Huron and Canadian Mental Health Association, Huron Perth Addictions and Mental Health Services.  This innovative program aims to transition vulnerable individuals out of homelessness into temporary living spaces that offer stability and support. Utilizing a “Dispersed Model of Supportive Housing,” individuals will be accommodated in units throughout the community, providing a safe environment for individuals needing rest, food, and connection to appropriate services.

For information on this sheltering option call 519-525-5922. 

 

Current Data on Homelessness in Huron

Each month, Huron’s Housing and Homelessness Servicing System will share details about the number of people experieincing homelessness in our community.  By taking a closer look at the data each month, we can start to:

  • Focus on the facts (what we know), rather than the narrative (what we think).
  • Adjust our services based on current events.
  • See what needs to be done to end homelessness.
  • Improve the lives of people experiencing homelessness.

Monthly Share-Outs 2024

March April 
 May June  July  August 
September  October  November  December

Monthly Share-Outs 2025

January

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Be Part of the Solution

Learn more about what the County of Huron and our partners are doing to prevent and address homelessness and what you can do to help!

Discover:

  • FAQs
  • Myth Busters
  • Downloadables
  • Local resources
  • And more

The Corporation of the County of Huron is dedicated to enhancing the social and economic well-being of Huron County through the creation and preservation of affordable housing.

The County supports an individual’s fundamental right to housing without discrimination as protected under Ontario’s Human Rights Code.

Policies

Annual Subsidy

Annual Subsidy

Title of Policy Policy No.
Annual Subsidy Estimates Policy 2013-35 Download 

 

Limits of Local Standards

Limits of Local Standards

Title of Policy Policy No.
Conflict of Interest Policy 2013-27 Download 
Leases Policy 2013-31 Download 
Minimum Number Board Meetings Policy 2013-29 Download 
Multi-Year Financial Plans Policy 2013-32 Download 
Property Management Policy 2013-28 Download 
Remuneration of Directors Policy 2013-30 Download 

 

Occupancy Standards

Occupancy Standards

Title of Policy Policy No.
Local Occupancy Standards Policy 2013-09 Download 
Maximum Absence from Unit Policy 2013-06 Download 

 

Rent-geared-to-income

 

Rent Geared to Income

Title of Policy Policy No.
Change in Rent Upon New Information Policy 2013-37 Download 
Deferral of Forgiveness of RGI Rent Policy 2013-34 Download 
Failure to Obtain Income Policy 2013-02 Download 
Failure to Provide Information Policy 2013-01 Download 
Maximum Household Assets Policy 2013-04 Download 
Maximum Household Incomes Policy 2013-03 Download 
Notice of Decision by Housing Providers Policy 2013-21 Download 
Reimbursement of RGI Overpayment Policy 2013-22 Download 
Review of Geared-to-Income Rent Policy 2013-38 Download 
Timing of Reviews Policy 2013-20 Download 

 

Review of Decisions

Review of Decisions

Title of Policy Policy No.
System of Review of Decisions Policy 2013-33 Download 

 

Special Needs

Special Needs

Title of Policy Policy No.
Removal From Wait List Policy 2013-24 Download 
Review of Special Needs Eligibility Policy 2013-26 Download 
Selection System Policy 2013-23 Download 
Special Needs Households Policy 2013-19 Download 
System of Review of Decisions Policy 2013-36 Download 

 

Waitlist

Waitlist

Title of Policy Policy No.
Alternative Housing Providers Policy 2013-17 Download 
Forms & Documentation Policy 2013-11 Download 
Removal from Wait List Policy 2013-12 Download 
Review of Rent-Geared-to-Income Eligibility Policy 2013-14 Download 
Selection of RGI Household for Vacant Units Policy 2013-15 Download 
System for Selecting Waiting Households Policy 2013-10 Download 
Temporary Removal from Wait List Policy 2013-13 Download 

 

Contact Social & Property Services

County of Huron
Social & Property Services
77722D London Road, RR 5
Clinton, Ontario
N0M 1L0

Phone: 519.482.8505
Toll Free: 1.888.371.5718
Fax: 519.482.1632

Hours:
Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.