The Canadian government has various grants to meet the needs of low-income homeowners.
The Canadian government provides many grants for low-income homeowners who need to make repairs to their home or make it handicapped accessible. The grants are given to individual homeowners or landlords who are changing the property to meet the needs of people with a disability or who simply need to make certain repairs to the home.
Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program
The Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program (RRAP) for people with disabilities provides funding for those who need to install items in their home to improve their quality of life. The money may be used to install chair lifts, ramps, hand rails and other modifications that are related to a disability. Landlords and homeowners may apply for the grant. To be eligible, the property needs to meet the minimum safety and health standards and be occupied or plan to be occupied by a low-income person with a disability. If the dwelling is rented, the rent must be below the rent level in that area. If the dwelling is a house then it needs to be owned and valued at a price below a specific level.
Certain items do not qualify for grants, including walkers and wheelchairs, which are portable. Therapeutic or supportive care is not provided by the grant.
The grant amount varies depending on the area of Canada in which you live. If you are a homeowner in the far northern part of the country, the grant totals $24,000. If you are in the northern Canada, you may get a grant totaling $19,000. Residents of southern Canada may receive $16,000. For landlords the grant totals $36,000, $28,000 and $26,000 for the far northern, northern and southern areas of Canada, respectively. More funding may be given for those who live in remote areas.
Canada Housing and Mortgage Corp.
700 Montreal Road
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0P7
800-668-2642
cmhc-schl.gc.ca
RRAP On-Reserve
RRAP On-Reserve provides funding for low-income Native Canadian groups and individuals who need to repair their homes. The program specifically gives money to First Nation councils and members to fix their homes on reserve. To be eligible, the house being repaired needs to be at least five years old and household income should be under the set level in the area based on location and household size. The housing should need essential facilities, require structural repairs or need repairs to the electrical, plumbing, fire or heating systems. Other requirements may also apply.
First Nation members should apply for the grant through their council. The grant money can also be used to help improve accessibility for the disabled and to reduce overcrowding. The grant totals $16,000, $19,000 and $24,000 for the southern, northern and far northern parts of Canada. There may be an additional 25 percent added to the grant for those who live in remote areas of northern and far northern Canada.
Beside the First Nations council, more information can be obtained from the Aboriginal Housing office, which has locations throughout Canada. The Montreal office contact information is given below.
Aboriginal Housing Office
1100 Rene-Levesque Blvd. West
Montreal, Quebec H3B 5J7
514-283-0741
cmhc.schl.gc.ca
Emergency Repair Program
The Emergency Repair Program is meant to help those who have a low income and need to make necessary repairs to their home. To be eligible, an individual only needs to have low income and be a tenant or homeowner in a rural area of Canada. Repairs may be made on a variety of areas of the home, including the electrical system, the foundation, chimneys, windows and doors, among other areas. The grant amount, like other financial assistance, varies depending on where one lives in Canada. Assistance totals $6,000, $9,000 and $11,000, respectively, for those that live in the southern, northern and far northern parts of the country. Repairs that are started before the application for funding has been approved in writing are not eligible for the grant.
Canada Housing and Mortgage Corp.
700 Montreal Road
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0P7
800-668-2642
cmhc-schl.gc.ca
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