Hamilton landlords allege misuse of Ontario Works housing funds

The Small Ownership Landlords of Ontario (SOLO) has raised concerns about Hamilton’s Ontario Works (OW) program.

In mid-October, the landlord advocacy group sent a letter to Minister of Children, Community and Social Services Michael Parsa, alleging the city’s OW department has been knowingly providing shelter allowances to recipients who misuse them, or at least failing to ensure those funds are used to pay rent as intended.

The group cites the department’s own reports of overpayments and missed performance benchmarks as evidence of weak oversight.

SOLO claims “the lack of accountability in OW fund administration” has led to “rent arrears, legal disputes, and financial strain on small landlords” and, ultimately, is “destabiliz[ing] the very housing OW is supposed to secure.”

The concerns have prompted Hamilton Auditor General Charles Brown to open an audit into the city’s OW operations. Brown’s findings, which will now include a value-for-money review, are expected to be released sometime in 2026.

Whether a tenant receives Ontario Works benefits or not, no landlord or property manager wants the hassle of chasing rent manually. Fortunately, PayProp makes bulk arrears management a couple of clicks over coffee.

PayProp’s automated payment reminders prompt tenants before rent is due, and have proven to improve on-time payment rates and reduce arrears – 64% of tenants respond and pay within 48 hours of a reminder.

And in the event of a dispute, PayProp keeps a time-stamped record of every action taken on the platform. These records can’t be edited or deleted, meaning you and your landlords have clear, reliable evidence to support your case if rent issues ever reach the courtroom.

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