Non-Profit Housing

Opening the right door can change your life.

We believe that everyone deserves access to a good place to live. The City's Housing Division has well maintained units available to rent for those on a tight budget.

The City manages 476 residential rental units. These houses and apartments vary in size from one to four-bedroom units. They are available for rent to low-income earners based on their family net income. Net income is defined as gross income minus mandatory income tax deduction, EI and CPP deductions.

Our housing ranges from a 65-unit apartment building on Hamilton Avenue to infill in the downtown core. While most of the housing provided by the City is in the downtown area, we do provide housing as far east as Forest Road and as far west as Brookfield Road.

A great home may be just a call away.

Properties

For those who can pay rent but are struggling to find an affordable place…

The City of St. John's operates 268 units which fall into this category. Tenants in this type of housing pay the lower end of market rent as determined annually by Newfoundland Labrador Housing, or 25% of their net income, whichever is greater. Certain eligibility requirements are in place. Rents for these units depends on the number of bedrooms in the unit. A percentage of tenants in these properties are subsidized and the subsidy depends on the availability of funds. Usually, 15% of the units in each housing project receive a subsidy at any given time. Utility costs are the responsibility of the tenant.

30 Hamilton Avenue (64 two-bedroom apartments; 1 one-bedroom)
179-229 Forest Road (26 townhouses consisting of three-bedroom and four-bedroom)
Rawlin's Cross (25 apartments consisting of one-bedroom and two-bedroom)
Fahey's Row (5 one-bedroom and 5 three-bedroom)
66-92 Alexander Street/131-153 Hamilton Avenue (24 semi-detached townhouses; three-bedroom and four-bedroom)
2-16 Carnell Street/2-32 Larkin's Square (four townhouses and 20 semi-detached town houses; three-bedroom and four-bedroom)
65-79 Carter's Hill/12-34 Goodview Street (20 apartments, three-bedroom and four-bedroom)
1-29 Sebastian Court (29 townhouses, two-bedroom, three-bedroom, and four-bedroom)
15-39 Cuckhold's Cove Road (13 three-bedroom town houses and semi-detached)
In addition, there are 32 apartments/houses in the Infill Housing Program located in various areas throughout the City.

For those who need a more affordable option…

The City of St. John's operates 156 housing units which fall into this category. Rent-geared-to-income units are targeted specifically at individuals and families of low income. Rents in these units are based strictly on 25% of net monthly income. Heat is included in the rent and there is a small surcharge for lights.

People in need of housing should submit their applications and we will determine if you are eligible. Generally, applications are placed on a waiting list and inspections will be carried out on an applicant's present accommodations.

151-141 Hamlyn Road (26 semi-detached three and four-bedroom townhouses)
1-19 Rockcrest Court (19 two and three-bedroom townhouses)
1-15 Bastow Court/1-11 Mifflin Court on Brookfield Road (26 townhouses – one, two and three bedrooms, four designated disabled)
49-51 Cochrane Street (11 one-bedroom apartments for non-elderly singles)
174 Campbell Avenue (11 one and two-bedroom apartments, three designated for disabled and eight designated for seniors)
An additional 63 apartments/houses are provided through Infill housing located in the downtown area.

For seniors and single individuals who make less than $32,500 a year…

The City of St. John's operates 52 affordable one-bedroom housing units in the Pleasantville and Convent Square areas. These units are for single individuals and seniors with an income of $32,500 or less upon move in.

Apply

Applications for accommodation are available online, by phone or at our offices in the City Hall Annex, New Gower Street. See contact information and mailing address below.

If you need help completing the application or if you have trouble reading or understanding the application, please advise our staff who will gladly assist you. All applications should contain the following information (if not it will be returned to you):

Proof of income for each household member
Recent rent receipt
Social Insurance Number(s)
Date(s) of birth
Telephone number

Contact Us

If you are wondering about whether you might qualify for one of our units, contact us:

709-576-8196

housing@stjohns.ca

Frequently asked questions

Who is selected for housing?

As outlined on page four of the application, housing provided by the City falls into two distinct housing programs. Eligibility for both programs is determined by family income.

The Lower End of Market (LEM) housing program is similar to the private market and the rents are set (applicants have to meet certain income criteria) and the tenant is responsible for utilities (if you cannot have utilities connected in your name you will not qualify).
The Rent Geared to Income (RGI) program is targeted to singles and families with low incomes with rent determined based on income, utilities are included with the rental amount.

The City's Non-Profit Housing Division maintains waiting lists for both types of housing.

What factors determine my need for housing?

Total shelter costs (rent/heat/electricity you now pay)
Your present living conditions
The number of dependents you have

On your application you must state the current monthly income for each family member. Your monthly income will assist us in determining the housing program for which you may qualify.

What are my obligations as an applicant?

As an applicant, you are required to keep your application up to date. You should contact our office if you change your address or phone number and if there are any changes in your circumstances (i.e. household size, income, etc.).

Please Note: Each year we send “still interested?” letters to all applicants on our wait list (to the last known address). If we do not hear back from you, your application will be cancelled and shredded. A new application will be required if you would like to maintain your eligibility status.

What about my pet?

Pets are allowed in some properties, but not all. It is important to let staff know if you have a pet you will be taking with you to a non-profit housing unit early in the application process.

Will I have a choice of where I want to live?

A list of locations for units in both our housing programs can be found on page four of the application. Please indicate your desired location, keeping in mind that the City has a limited number of available housing units.

Who shall I call to find out about my application?

If a housing unit becomes available, you will be contacted by the Housing Division. Please ensure that your phone number is up-to-date and provide an alternate number for daytime contact.

If you wish to check on your application, please call 709-576-8196.

If you plan to come to our office, please call ahead to ensure that a staff person is available to answer your enquiries.