By Fred Alvarado Fred is a community journalist with FOCUS MEDIA ARTS CENTRE

City Councillor Chris Moise is offering a lifeline to Ward 13 residents with My Access to Housing TO Clinics in Regent Park and St James Town. Running from May 9 to May 31, these clinics aim to assist those on the Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) Housing Centralized Waiting List or those needing help applying for RGI housing. Working alongside Access to Housing and Housing Help Centres, Councillor Moise's clinics are set to address the pressing issue of housing accessibility in the community.

The clinics provide essential services to help residents navigate the complexities of RGI housing. Rent-Geared-to-Income (RGI) housing is a subsidy offered by the City of Toronto to make rent affordable for low-income households. Access to Housing, which manages the Centralized Waiting List for RGI Housing, works continuously to review and confirm the eligibility of applicants.

Applicants to RGI housing must be Canadian citizens, permanent residents, or refugees; the primary applicant must be at least 16 years old; they must meet income and asset requirements; there should be no outstanding debts to social housing providers. Up-to-date information can be found on the Access to Housing website at www.toronto.ca/accesstohousing.

In an exclusive interview with RPTV, Juliet Akhadia sheds light on the purpose of these clinics, explaining how they assist individuals in applying for RGI housing, detailing the roles of Access to Housing and Housing Help Centre staff, and covering eligibility criteria, waiting times, documentation requirements, and income and household size limits.

Regent Park TV visited the housing clinics in Regent Park and St James Town at their respective community centres, highlighting their vital importance for residents.