The Housing Services Act (HSA) is coming into force on January 1, 2012. Repealing the earlier Social Housing Reform Act (SHRA), the HSA, its regulations and the Housing Policy Statement involve some key changes that affect the social housing business in Ontario.

Notable Changes

Many of the provisions in SHRA are reiterated in the HSA with little or no change. However it does include some key changes:

• The time line for tenants to submit information on changes to income for Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) has been extended to 30 days
• Housing providers are required to make training opportunities available for staff, volunteers and Board members for succession
• Service Managers will develop 10-year housing and homelessness plans which will be submitted to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing

There are still gaps in the legislation which the Province will continue to work on in the future with sector stakeholders. These include possible future changes to utility scales, social assistance scales, performance measures and to how RGI is calculated.

Broader Focus and Changed Roles

Unlike the SHRA, which focused just on social housing, the HSA takes into account the broader housing continuum. It encompasses homeless shelters, street homeless, private rental housing and affordable ownership.

The Act also involves changes to how housing is framed in public policy. Under HSA, the Province will focus on oversight and policy direction, rather than planning and service delivery. Service Managers will have greater decision-making powers and flexibility to meet unique community needs. It also recognizes the role of non-profit housing providers in the housing and homelessness system.

In addition, the Act changes the name of the Social Housing Services Corporation (SHSC) to the Housing Services Corporation (HSC). HSC will continue to offer the same insurance, investment, energy management and renovation and retrofits services that help providers manage and protect their building assets while reducing risk through investment, and lowering operating costs. They will also continue to help with training, research and best practices. The Act also calls on HSC to address quality of life issues for tenants. HSC partnership programs, like its financial literacy pilot in Windsor, North Bay and Ottawa with Social and Enterprise Development Innovations, are under development with the goal of supporting greater resident engagement and self-sufficiency.

Recognizing that the new legislation will involve changes for housing providers, and that some of its services have been in operation for close to 10 years, HSC is making time over the next year for feedback on the programs it offers. Consultations on its insurance program will take place in multiple cities across the province in late-January to February 2012. Click here for consultation dates and registration information.

Online Resources

The Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing has a webpage that offers the legislation, the Housing Policy Statement and the long term strategy.

The Ontario Non-Profit Housing Association has a webpage dedicated to HSA, including a detailed guide on the legislation and its regulations

The Cooperative Housing Federation of Canada – Ontario Region is developing HSA-related tools for co-ops, such as by-law amendments, and training. Details are available on its (members only) online Resource Centre