Housing

The City recognizes affordable housing as a fundamental building block of a complete, healthy, and inclusive community.

The Housing Branch provides a continuum of housing and housing support services to sustain and enhance social housing, promote options for increasing the supply of affordable housing, ensure the delivery of emergency and supportive housing services, and manage the development and implementation of a community action plan to prevent and end homelessness.

Social Housing

In 2001, the Province transferred the responsibility for social housing to municipalities. The City has legislated obligations as Service Manager under the Social Housing Reform Act. The Housing Branch funds and administers legislated social housing programs for over 22,500 units.

Additional information about how to apply for social housing is available.

Residential and Support Services

This division is responsible for the management of the two City-owned and operated emergency shelters for families. In addition, they purchase emergency shelter beds when required, manage supportive housing for the frail/elderly and the mentally challenged from community agencies, and private operators in the community. They are also responsible for housing stabilization and search services available to the homeless, and those at risk of homelessness.

Affordable Housing

The City's Housing Branch is responsible for facilitating the development of affordable housing for low-income individuals and families in Ottawa.

This division works with external developers (private and not-for-profit) who have expressed interest in the development of affordable housing. Internally the division works with Development Services, primarily regarding the achievement of the Official Plan targets for affordability, and the management of the City Housing Strategy.

For more information about the Housing Branch, please refer to the menu on the left side of the page.