DESCRIPTION
Madison Community Services is a Toronto-based non-profit delivering supportive housing and case management to over 500 individuals annually across 294 units in congregate and scattered-site housing. This project seeks funding to implement a Tenant Stabilization Fund to prevent evictions and sustain housing for individuals experiencing homelessness, mental health challenges, and financial instability. The fund will provide immediate, flexible financial supports—including rent arrears, utilities, essential furnishings, and crisis-related costs—to stabilize high-risk tenancies. Funding will enable rapid intervention, reduce evictions, and strengthen housing retention across Madison’s portfolio and partner housing network, improving wellbeing and reducing reliance on emergency systems
DETAILS
Affordability Framework
Madison Community Services operates primarily under a Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) framework, ensuring tenants pay a proportion of their income toward rent, typically aligned with social assistance shelter allowances (e.g., ODSP/OW) or other verified income sources.
For units not formally designated as RGI, rents are maintained at deeply affordable levels, generally at or below 80% of Average Market Rent (AMR), in alignment with municipal and funder expectations.
This approach ensures housing remains accessible to individuals with low and fixed incomes, including those experiencing homelessness and mental health challenges. The Tenant Stabilization Fund complements this framework by addressing short-term financial crises, property damages, emergency and disaster preparedness and mitigation (e.g., arrears, income disruptions), enabling tenants to sustain their housing and maintain affordability over the long term.
Target Completion Date
N/A
Populations Served
Homelessness
Total Project Cost
$250,000
Total Units
294
Affordable Units
294
Project Funding
Funding Required
Requesting $250,000 in flexible funding to support a Tenant Stabilization Fund addressing urgent, short-term housing risks. Funds will be used for rent arrears, utility payments, emergency household needs, and crisis-related costs. Funding is required immediately to enable rapid response and should be available on an ongoing basis to prevent evictions and sustain housing stability.
Funds Raised
Funds will provide flexible, short-term supports including rent arrears, utilities, essential furnishings, and crisis-related needs. The fund will enable immediate intervention for tenants at risk of eviction, improving housing stability and reducing reliance on emergency systems.
All funds will be administered through coordinated case management to ensure equitable, needs-based allocation, with strong accountability and tracking.
Use of funds
Funds will provide flexible, short-term supports including rent arrears, utilities, essential furnishings, and crisis-related needs. The fund will enable immediate intervention for tenants at risk of eviction, improving housing stability and reducing reliance on emergency systems.
All funds will be administered through coordinated case management to ensure equitable, needs-based allocation, with strong accountability and tracking.
Human Impact Story
A tenant in our housing program was at risk of eviction after falling behind on rent due to a sudden health crisis that disrupted their income, property damage due to mental health crisis. With limited supports available at the time, their situation quickly escalated, affecting their mental health and stability. Through consistent case management, we were able to stabilize the situation, connect them to income supports, and provide basic needs assistance. With access to flexible stabilization funding, we could have intervened earlier to prevent arrears from accumulating and reduce the stress on the tenant. Today, the tenant remains housed, engaged in supports, and is making steady progress toward recovery and independence.
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