In Peterborough, Community housing is housing owned and/or operated by local housing providers (PHC), non-housing corporations, and housing co-operatives. The Community housing waitlist is administered through Housing Access Peterborough (HAP). HAP offers two separate waitlists for Community housing programs, Rent Geared to Income (RGI) Housing and Affordable Housing.
Rent Geared to Income (RGI) means that rent costs are no more than 30% of your income. Households seeking special priority placement for RGI housing must submit supporting documentation.
Affordable Housing means that rents are set at or below Average Market Rent (AMR) and are not geared to the household's income. The rents for Affordable Housing units are generally set between 60% to 100% of the average market rent set by the Province. Rental rates for these units typically increase each year, as per provincial rent control guidelines. There is no local waitlist placement priority for Affordable Housing buildings.
8. Proof of custody for every child on your application that does not live full-time in the household.
Note: Under our local occupancy standards for Community Housing, the maximum number of bedrooms allowed is one bedroom per single or couple, plus additional bedroom for each family member.
| Bachelor | 1-bedroom | 2-bedroom | 3-bedroom | 4-bedroom (or larger) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $36,000 | $46,000 | $55,000 | $63,000 | $83,000 |
| Bachelor | 1-bedroom | 2-bedroom | 3-bedroom | 4-bedroom (or larger) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $29,500 | $38,500 | $46,500 | $52,500 | $61,000 |
Rabbit St, Lakefield
900 Dutton Road
553 Bonaccord St
526 McDonnel St
193 Parkhill Rd W
220 Edinburgh St
555 Bonaccord St
- Has wheelchair Accessible units
You can apply for Community housing in the City and County of Peterborough through an online portal, or by completing the Community Housing Application Form.
1. The online portal is recommended if you are using a computer.
2. The Community Housing Application is a fillable PDF. To submit:
Step 1: Download and save.
Step 2: Email it to hapinfo@peterborough.ca or upload online here.
3. Hard copy Applications are available at the Peterborough Social Services office (178 Charlotte St., Peterborough) or the Housing Resource Centre (540 George St. N., Peterborough). If you must come in person, the office is open Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can also drop off your application in the secure mailbox located outside the main doors.
Housing Access Peterborough, Peterborough Social Services
178 Charlotte St., P.O. Box 4138
Peterborough, ON
You may need to complete Additional forms with your RGI Housing Application. Instructions on how to include your supporting documents are explained for both the online portal and the application form.
If you need help with the online portal or your application form, please contact us at hapinfo@peterborough.ca or call 705-748-8830.
You may need to complete and submit additional forms with your Community Housing Application - both RGI and Affordable. Staff can help you determine which additional forms are needed, based on your individual situation. The following forms are available for you to print and complete, if applicable:
Note: There is no priority for Affordable Housing Buildings
Special Priority Policy (SPP) applies to individuals applying for priority access for RGI housing in the City and County of Peterborough. Only people fleeing family/domestic abuse and human trafficking will be offered priority placement on the waitlist.
When your application is complete you will receive a letter confirming that you are on the waitlists for all of the places you chose (as long as you are eligible). We are unable to tell you how long your wait time will be. There are many factors that can cause you to move up or down the list and it may change day-to-day.
It is important for you to keep your contact information updated so that you are ready to receive a call from a Housing Provider when it comes. You will be the first to know when there is a vacancy where you are the top candidate.
Wait times vary for many reasons including unit size, priority status, unit location and unit turnover. These also vary from year to year. In general, you should expect to wait at least the following lengths of time for RGI housing.
The Affordable Housing waitlist is based on vacancy and turnover. These are estimates only and in no way pinpoint how long you will be on the list(s). Wait times may be shorter or longer than indicated.
If you need to make a housing plan for the immediate future, we recommend that you contact the Housing Resource Centre at 705-743-2272.
Tell us right away if:
Keeping your contact information up to date ensures housing providers can contact you when it is time to offer you housing. If a housing provider cannot reach you to make an offer of housing, it could be counted as a refusal, and you could lose your place on the Centralized Waiting List.
You can change your housing selections at any time. Please make sure that you have only chosen housing locations where you would be willing to move to at the time of offer. The Community Housing Map is a great way to help you make your decision on where to apply.
Portal
To update your application on the portal, please contact Housing Access Peterborough staff by phone (705-748-8830) or by email (hapinfo@peterborough.ca) to get important information about your registered portal account.
Print and complete the update form
You can choose to print and complete the Community Housing Update Form and include any relevant completed forms from the list below.
Additional forms to print and complete (as needed)
You can also submit your completed forms and documents directly to the staff person you are working with or by email (hapinfo@peterborough.ca).
Annual Update for Community Housing
Every twelve (12) months you will be sent an Annual Update. HAP must receive your updated form in the timeline provided with the form.
You must complete the Annual Update form and return it to HAP.
If the form is not returned, or we cannot contact you, your application may be cancelled and you will have to re-apply.
If you want HAP staff to communicate with someone other than yourself about the details of your application you can give us permission on the application form.
The online, interactive Community Housing Map shows RGI and Affordable properties in the City and County of Peterborough. When you find places you are interested in, you can choose them on your application on the Housing Selections pages.
It is important to only select places where you would actually move into, since you will only get one offer of housing when your name comes up on the list. If you do not accept an offer of housing, you will be taken off the wait list for housing.
Please ask for a list of other affordable housing options, and how to apply. They are also listed on the online community housing map.
The community housing map shows RGI housing options and other affordable properties in the City and County of Peterborough.
There is only one group of applicants with priority access to RGI housing in the City and County of Peterborough. Only people fleeing family/domestic abuse and human trafficking will be offered housing before other applicants. This group is called Special Priority Policy (SPP).
The Province of Ontario determines who is eligible for SPP status. People applying for SPP priority status must complete the SPP application form or the SPP application form (online). Applicants fleeing abuse must provide Verification of Recent Cohabitation and the Professional Declaration form. Staff are available to help applicants apply for RGI housing.
You can request a review of a decision about SPP status through the Request for Review form.
Accessibility and special needs accommodations are available for tenants. Applicants may request accessible buildings (e.g., with ramps, automatic doors and doorways) if you are unable to climb stairs or if you use a mobility device.
The community housing map and the application form include an accessibility icon beside some of the sites. The icon means there are fully accessible units at the location. Many other sites have units with accessible features.
Modified units are reserved for applicants who are physically disabled and in a wheelchair on a full-time basis. Modifications may vary by unit and can include features such as grab bars, lowered counter tops, and wider door frames.
For applicants who require overnight care from a caregiver or in some cases require space for medical equipment, you can apply for an additional bedroom.
If you have accessibility needs, please read the property descriptions in the community housing map or contact HAP staff at the Peterborough Social Services office.
Mandate housing providers have special requirements for people who live in their buildings, called “mandates.” For example, some mandates require that tenants be seniors, Indigenous or women fleeing domestic violence.
The mandates of housing providers are included in banners on the housing application and in the descriptions and filters in the community housing map. You will not be added to the list of a housing provider if you are not eligible because of their mandate.
Thrive Housing and Support
Thrive Housing & Support is a Community Housing Provider that also provides supports from a Personal Support Worker (PSW) for people with physical disabilities, acquired brain injuries, are living with HIV, or are considered high risk seniors, who require personal care. For more information on applying for their support services please visit their website at www.thrivehs.ca.
Note: If applying for housing in addition to PSW supports, please continue with your RGI Housing Application through Housing Access Peterborough.
Do you have questions? We are here to help you understand the affordable housing options in the City and County of Peterborough. We can also help you fill out applications.
Contact HAP staff at Peterborough Social Services
Office/Mail: 178 Charlotte Street (in the Charlotte Mews) PO Box 4138 Peterborough ON K9J 8S1
Phone: 705-748-8830 or toll-free 1-855-738-3755
