Housing | City of Stratford

The City of Stratford Social Services Department is the provincially designated Consolidated Municipal Service Manager (CMSM or ‘Service Manager’) responsible for administering social services in Stratford, Perth County, and St. Marys. This includes programs and services to help residents access housing options that are affordable and meet their needs, situations, and choice.

Affordable housing, including rent-geared-to-income (RGI) housing, helps people live safely and affordably in Stratford while still paying for other essentials like food, transportation, childcare, and health costs. RGI housing generally means a household’s rent is based on income (commonly calculated as a percentage of household income, subject to program rules) which is especially important for people on fixed or low wages and those facing unpredictable income. To qualify for RGI programs, household income must be below Household Income Limits set by the province. The City of Stratford is committed to investing in and expanding affordable and RGI supports wherever possible to improve community well-being and local economic resilience.

Housing Programs Explained

Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) Housing

RGI housing is a unit for which tenants pay no more than 30% of their household income on rent. Household income must be below Household Income Limits set by the province.

Rent Support Programs

Rent supports are government-funded payments (also called subsidies or benefits) that bridge the gap between what a household can afford to pay and what the actual cost of housing is. Depending on the program, type of payment, and source of funding, these payments can be used for both private market and community housing units.

Social Housing Providers

Community housing refers to housing that is owned and operated by non-profit housing corporations, housing co-operatives, and municipal governments.

While most local community housing providers offer rent-geared-to-income (RGI) housing which is managed through the centralized waiting list, many also provide market rents for which they maintain their own waiting lists, and which typically cost less than what is available in the private market.

Is a housing co-op the right choice for you?

For more information on these market rent units (non-subsidized housing), please contact the housing providers directly.

To apply to any of the above mentioned programs, or for more information please visit Apply for Rent-Geared-to-Income Housing

Affordable Housing

Affordable housing is not the same as community or social housing where rent is calculated based on the income of the tenant and may change if the tenant's income changes. Affordable housing rents are set at 80% of the average market rent (AMR) for comparable units in Stratford and are not adjusted due to income changes. This is an important distinction to keep in mind when deciding to apply to live at the Britannia Street Affordable Housing Project.

For more information or to apply, please visit Britannia Street Affordable Housing