COMMUNITY HOUSING FAQ

Application Process
All applications for Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) assistance in the United Counties of Leeds & Grenville have been combined into one waiting list. This list is managed by the Community Housing Registry. This “One Stop Shopping” service allows applicants to apply to more than one housing provider by completing only Part A (983 KB) and Part B (108 KB) of the MS Word format application form.

Are You Eligible?
To be eligible for RGI assistance you must meet the following criteria:

• Able to live independently over the age of 16 (at least one member of household);
• Legal resident status in Canada of each member of household (citizen, permanent resident, or refugee status);
• No deportation order, departure or exclusion order under the Immigration Act;
• No member of the household owes arrears as a result of either rent or damage of any social housing property in Ontario;
• No member has been convicted for misrepresentation of income in relation to RGI assistance under the Criminal Code, by a Court of Law or Ontario Rental Housing Tribunal;
• If you own property, you are required to sell it within 180 days after receiving RGI assistance.

The Community Housing Registry will:

Determine eligibility

If eligible, the application is acknowledged within 30 days of receipt or 14 days if special priority is requested. Applicant is placed on all appropriate wait lists as requested.

If deemed ineligible, the applicant will be notified within 7 days.

Waiting List
There is a modified chronological wait list; new applicants are placed on the wait list according to the date the application is received in the Community Housing offices. Special Priority Status applicants are place at the top of the chronological wait list according to the date Special Priority Status is granted.

Appeal Process
There is an appeal process for applications that have been denied based on ineligibility, as set out in the regulations of the Social Housing Reform Act 2000. The Act, Regulations and local policies are available to the public at the Community Housing Registry office at 25 Central Avenue West, Brockville, Ontario.

What is Special Priority Status?
Special Priority status can be requested by an applicant whose personal safety is at risk because of abuse by a person with whom they live in a familial relationship. If the applicant has already separated from the abuser, they must apply for special priority status within three months of the date of separation and must intend to live apart from the abuser.

You can obtain a Request for Special Priority form from the Community Housing Registry or from the housing providers.

Where Do I Apply?
Applications may be picked up at the Brockville and Prescott offices of the Community Housing Department, all Social Housing providers, Ontario Early Years Centres and Ontario Works offices. An application may also be faxed, mailed or printed from the website upon request.

Completed applications will only be accepted at the Community Housing Registry office in Brockville and Prescott as well as all Social Housing providers.

My Obligations As An Applicant
As an applicant, you are required to keep your file updated in order to be on the wait list and maintain your eligibility status. It is your responsibility to notify the Community Housing Registry of changes.

• To your address and/or telephone number changes.
• Changes in circumstances (i.e.) household size, income, no longer wish to remain on the wait list.

How Will I Be Contacted For An Offer?
You will be contacted by telephone and/or mail so it is very important that you make sure that we always have a current phone number to reach you.

How Much will My Rent Be?
Rent is calculated at 30% of the household’s combined gross monthly income. Depending on circumstances, there may be additional costs such as utilities and parking. A utility allowance may be applied to your rent. A deposit for last month’s rent is not required.

What If I Want A Transfer?
To qualify for a transfer you must be a tenant for one year, not have rent arrears for six months, and no history of damage to the unit or disturbing neighbours. You must apply to the Community Housing Registry and your application would be placed at the end of the wait list, unless priority or urgent status has been granted.

What Are The Occupancy Standards?
This determines what size of a unit you are eligible for. For instance 1 bedroom for any 2 members of the household who are spouses or same sex partners and 1 bedroom for each additional member. Children of the same sex with an age difference less than 5 years would share a bedroom.

DELEGATIONS TO THE JOINT SERVICES COMMITTEE

Delegations must register with the clerk by 12:00 Noon on the Friday preceding the committee meeting. He/she shall provide to the clerk his/her name, reason for delegation and, if he/she is representing any organization, the name of the agency or other such body.

Delegations that have not registered must notify the clerk prior to the start of the committee meeting. Before any unregistered delegation is heard, the presiding officer shall seek the majority consent of the committee

Each delegation is allowed one spokesperson, who will be allowed a maximum of ten minutes to address the committee. At the Committee’s discretion, this time may be reduced or extended.

The inclusion of a delegation on the committee agenda shall be determined on a first come basis and regard shall be given to the length of the agenda.

DELEGATIONS TO THE COUNTIES COUNCIL

Individuals or groups coming before Council to make a presentation must register with the Clerk not later than Noon on the day prior to the day of preparation of the Agenda. The individual or group shall provide to the Clerk his/her name or the name of the group, reason for the delegation and, if representing any organization, the name of the agency or other such body.

Delegations that have not registered must notify the Clerk prior to the start of the meeting. Before any unregistered delegation is heard , the presiding officer shall seek the majority consent of Council.

Each delegation shall be allowed a maximum of ten minutes to address Council. At Council’s discretion, this time may be reduced or extended.

The inclusion of a delegation on the agenda shall be determined on a first come basis and regard shall be given to the length of the agenda.

PROVINCIAL OFFENCES

Offence Notice
WITHIN 15 DAYS of receiving a Part 1 Ticket (yellow Offence Notice), you MUST choose one of the three options that are explained on the reverse of the ticket.

These options are outlined as follows:

Option 1 - Plea of Guilty Payment Out of Court
When choosing this option, you are pleading guilty to the offence, you must pay the "total payable" indicated at the bottom of the ticket. Fines can be paid in person or by mail locally at United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, Provincial Offences Office, 32A Wall Street, Brockville, Ontario K6V 4R9, or at any other Provincial Offences office in Ontario. When mailing a cheque please enclose the payment slip provided with your ticket. Cash, personal cheque, certified cheque, money order, bank draft, debit card, VISA, Mastercard and American Express are accepted as payment. Please do not mail cash.

You may also pay your fine using the Internet at www.payfines.ca.

Option 2 - Plea of Guilty with an Explanation
Option 2 is also called a walk-in guilty plea. To choose this option, you must attend before a Justice of the Peace to plead guilty and explain your situation. The Justice of the Peace can lower the fine amount, give you longer time to pay the fine or both. When choosing this option please note that the Justice of the Peace cannot reduce the charge (e.g., a speeding charge of 20 kilometres over the limit cannot be reduced to 15 kilometres). Demerit points are applied by the Ministry of Transportation upon conviction. The Justice of the Peace has no authority to change or delete demerit points applied to the charge. The Justice of the Peace is available between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. on Monday and Thursday, at the Court House, 41 Court House Square, Brockville, Ontario.

Option 3 - Trial
To plead not guilty to an offence, or plead guilty to a lesser charge, within 15 days of the date the officer served the ticket, you must sign under Option 3, verify your address, and file with the court office, at the address stated above in Option 1. Approximately 2-3 weeks after your request for trial has been received at the office you will be forwarded a Notice of Trial by mail. If you do not attend court when required, you will be deemed to not dispute the charge, convicted and fined in your absence, by the Court. Court costs may apply.

Summons
If you receive a Summons indicating a court date, you must appear in court on the date and time shown. If you do not appear, a trial could be scheduled to proceed in your absence or a warrant issued for your arrest, depending on the seriousness of the charge.

Summary

FINE PAYMENT - OPTION 1

Online	www.payfines.ca
Fax	613-342-8891 - VISA, Mastercard or American Express
Phone	613-342-2357 - VISA, Mastercard or American Express
Mail	Cheque, money order, VISA, Mastercard or American Express Provincial Offences Office United Counties of Leeds and Grenville 32A Wall Street Brockville, Ontario K6V 4R9
In Person	Provincial Offences Office United Counties of Leeds and Grenville 32A Wall Street, Brockville, Ontario Hours of Operation are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday

WALK-IN GUILTY PLEA - OPTION 2

Every Monday and Thursday
9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the Court located at
41 Court House Square,
Brockville, Ontario

REQUEST FOR TRIAL - OPTION 3

Deliver in person or mail to:

Provincial Offences Office
United Counties of Leeds and Grenville
32A Wall Street
Brockville, Ontario
K6V 4R9