TORONTO - Mayor Olivia Chow was joined by Dr. Andrew Boozary, Executive Director of Gattuso Centre for Social Medicine at UHN, to announce more funding for Toronto’s Rent Bank as part of her 2026 affordability budget and discuss the importance of helping families stay housed.
“Families are feeling squeezed from the high cost of living, that’s why my budget is about making life more affordable. Our budget delivers real support by helping 4,500 families next year make rent in a tough month through more funding for the Rent Bank, rent subsidies or other help to prevent evictions,” said Mayor Chow. “With programs for renters and by building more affordable homes, we make sure people who work in our city can continue to live here. The 2026 budget continues our work to deliver a more affordable, safe and caring city.”
Toronto’s Rent Bank helps families stay housed when times are tough by providing grants to help people make rent, cover arrears or secure a new home (learn more here). Mayor Chow’s budget will provide a total of $10.8 million towards the Rent Bank, helping 2,800 families. This has nearly doubled since Mayor Chow took office in 2023.
Further, the 2026 budget includes funding to support 1,100 households to prevent evictions through case management (Eviction Prevention in Community program) and rent-subsidies through the Canada-Ontario Housing benefit. Bringing the total to nearly 4,500 households remaining housed across these programs.
This announcement follows the launch of Canada’s first hospital-based eviction prevention program at University Health Network (UHN). Launched in December 2025, the donor-supported program provides one-time rental assistance for low-income UHN patients facing eviction risk as part of their medical care, operating alongside the City of Toronto’s Rent Bank.
“With the incredible support of donors, UHN launched a hospital-based eviction prevention program, treating housing stability as preventive health care,” said Dr. Andrew Boozary. “By expanding access to rent relief, the City of Toronto is taking an evidence-informed step that will keep people housed, reduce strain on our health system, and improve health outcomes across the city.”
Mayor Chow’s 2026 budget focuses on affordability and continuing progress on making Toronto safer. It includes free healthy meals in schools, TTC fares frozen for the third straight year - as well as investment to continue reducing 911 wait times and lowering crime by hiring police, paramedics, firefighters and mental health workers. See more here.