The new Ontario Works Directive 7.4

The New Ontario Works Directive 7.4




DIRECTIVE #7.4: COMMUNITY START UP AND MAINTENANCE BENEFIT
SUMMARY OF POLICY
Community Start Up and Maintenance Benefit (CSUMB) is a mandatory benefit
which may be issued to recipients who meet the eligibility criteria for the benefit.
LEGISLATIVE AUTHORITY
Sections 2 and 8 of the Act.
Section 55(1) of Regulation 134/98.
SUMMARY OF DIRECTIVE
This directive describes the Community Start Up and Maintenance Benefit and
the situations in which it is provided.
INTENT OF POLICY
To ensure that the Community Start Up and Maintenance Benefit is issued to
eligible recipients taking exceptional circumstances into consideration where they
exist.
APPLICATION OF POLICY
The Community Start up and Maintenance Benefit (CSUMB) is a mandatory
benefit provided to recipients to assist in establishing a new principal residence,
or to prevent eviction or the discontinuance of utilities or heating in an existing
residence.
The amount of the CSUMB payable, as determined by the Administrator, is up to
a maximum of $1500 for recipients with dependent children, or up to a maximum
of $799 for all other recipients, in a 24-month period.
The approved amount is based on verifiable costs which in the Administrator’s
opinion are necessary to establish a permanent residence in the community or to
maintain an existing residence, or maintain utilities.
Costs must be visually verified and documented in the SDMT. First Nations
should visually verify and document costs using their respective computer
technology or manually on the recipient’s file.
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COMMUNITY START UP AND MAINTENANCE DIR 7.4 - 2 DECEMBER 2005
Each recipient's request for the CSUMB is reviewed on its own merit in light of the
policy intent. CSUMB is provided only where the needs have been identified and
where no other funds are available.
The payment of assistance for a rent deposit or utility deposit is made directly to
the landlord or utility company. The delivery agent can provide full or partial
payment prior to the date of departure from the previous place of residence (e.g.
rent deposit).
The CSUMB can be paid in more than one sum. The benefit may be paid in
separate amounts provided it covers only one "start up" event and does not
exceed the maximum amounts.
The Administrator may approve additional payments if there are exceptional
circumstances.
Eligibility Criteria
CSUMB is issued in situations where the recipient:
• meets the eligibility criteria; and
• within the preceding 24 months has not received the maximum amount of the
CSUMB to which the recipient is entitled under Ontario Works or the Ontario
Disability Support Program (ODSP).
Establishing a New Principal Residence
Criteria
In the case of establishing a new principal residence, the eligibility criteria are:
• the recipient will be establishing a new principal residence whether within or
outside the geographic area;
• the Administrator is satisfied that the recipient will need financial assistance to
establish the new principal residence; and
• the recipient meets one of the following criteria:
o is being discharged from an institution that provided for their basic needs
and shelter;
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COMMUNITY START UP AND MAINTENANCE DIR 7.4 - 3 DECEMBER 2005
o has satisfied the Administrator that it would be harmful to their health or
welfare to remain in their current residence; or
o has been evicted from their current residence
Allowable Start up Situations
In “start up” situations, the need for the recipient to leave their residence is clearly
identified and documented, and a reasonable plan is in place.
The "start up" event must occur within one month from the date of application for
assistance or the establishment of a new principal residence. CSUMB covers a
move into boarding or rental accommodation, not a per diem funded residence or
group home.
The benefit is provided for:
• victims of family violence, including spousal or child abuse;
• persons who are homeless;
• uninhabitable premises (where the uninhabitable conditions are not clearly
evident, verification is sought from a third party, e.g. a building or health
inspector or physician);
• a move out of the home where the need has been clearly established, for
example:
o a disabled person moving because of the incapacity or death of
supporting, care-giving family member(s);
o overcrowding condition within the premises;
o children and sole-support parents where there is documented need for
them to relocate;
o faced with eviction from their premises;
o persons needing to move for reasons of employment or training; or
o a move to more affordable accommodations, e.g. situations in which an
applicant or recipient was experiencing undue hardship because of
extreme shelter costs; and
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COMMUNITY START UP AND MAINTENANCE DIR 7.4 - 4 DECEMBER 2005
• persons being discharged from institutions such as:
o correctional facilities
o hospitals
o hostels
o nursing homes
o special care homes
o interval and transition homes
Allowable Start up Costs
Examples of the cost of establishing a new residence in the community include:
• clothing
• fuel and hydro deposits
• household furnishings
• last month's rent deposit
• moving and transportation to the home of the recipient
• any other costs approved by the Administrator
Recipient Moving to a Different Delivery Site
If a recipient is moving from one delivery site to another, the regular practice is to
issue the CSUMB from the delivery site which the recipient is leaving. This
enables the recipient to more easily establish an address in the new community.
This includes situations in which the Administrator is already aware of the need
and arrangements that are necessary for the recipient to relocate to another
community. A pay direct to the landlord is made for the rental portion.
There may be situations in which the new delivery site needs to issue the
CSUMB. For example, a recipient has left in an emergency and is already in the
geographic area of the new delivery site.
Emergencies might include, but are not limited to, cases of family violence or
reasons involving health-related matters. A recipient may require immediate funds
for last month's rent from the outgoing delivery site, then require further access to
the CSUMB for other demonstrated needs from the new delivery site.
Under no circumstances is the recipient to be asked to return to the previous
community to access the CSUMB. Unusual situations are discussed with the
Administrator.
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COMMUNITY START UP AND MAINTENANCE DIR 7.4 - 5 DECEMBER 2005
Maintaining an Existing Residence
Criteria
In the case of maintaining an existing residence, the eligibility criteria are:
• the recipient will be remaining in their current residence;
• the Administrator is satisfied that the recipient will need financial assistance to
remain in their current residence; and
• the recipient meets one of the following criteria:
o has received an eviction notice and has satisfied the Administrator that, if a
payment is made, there will be no evictions;
o has had a utility or the heating to the current residence cut off and has
satisfied the Administrator that if a payment is made the service will be
reconnected; or
o has received a notice that a utility or the heating to the current residence
will be cut off and has satisfied the Administrator that if a payment is made
the service will not be discontinued.
Utilities include water and sewage, rental of furnaces and water heaters, and
hook-up or reconnection charges for a utility. Heating is considered separate from
utilities.
The total amount of additional payments cannot exceed an amount of $1500 for
recipients with dependent children or $799 for all other recipients. The CSUMB
can be issued as many times as is required under exceptional circumstances.
Exceptional Circumstances
Generally, the CSUMB is approved for a recipient only once in a twenty-four
month period. However, there may be situations in which there is a need to assist
more than once within the twenty-four month time frame.
The following are considered exceptional circumstances:
• the necessity to relocate as a result of a catastrophic event (e.g. flood, fire)
• the necessity to relocate as a result of domestic violence
ONTARIO WORKS
COMMUNITY START UP AND MAINTENANCE DIR 7.4 - 6 DECEMBER 2005

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