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Supportive Housing Residences

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The City recognizes the need to support and promote the provision of specialized housing for a diverse population, including persons with disabilities and those having special housing needs. Specialized housing is to be strategically located and integrated in the community to provide access to all public amenities, including transportation, parks and open spaces. All supportive housing residences in the City of Brampton must be registered.

A Supportive Housing Residence is a voluntary group living arrangement that provides boarding and lodging for persons with special needs arising from physical, mental and developmental challenges. It provides a resident care environment developed for personal rehabilitation of its residents through self-help and professional care.

Types of Supportive Housing Residences

Supportive Housing Residence Type 1 is defined as a single dwelling unit in a residential dwelling of any kind that is licensed, approved, or funded under Federal or Provincial statute for the accommodation of 3 to 10 residents, exclusive of staff, that provides a group living arrangement under responsible supervision. A Supportive Housing Residence Type 1 does not include a Supportive Housing Residence Type 2 or have any correctional purpose.

Supportive Housing Residence Type 2 is defined as a single dwelling unit that is licensed, approved or funded under Federal or Provincial statute for the accommodation of 3 to 10 residents, exclusive of staff, that provides housing and rehabilitation for persons on probation, parole, early or re-release, or any other form of executive, judicial or administrative release from a penal institution. A Supportive Housing Residence Type 2 shall not include a Supportive Housing Residence Type 1.

A supportive housing residence may not provide supervision or treatment to any person that is not residing in the supportive housing residence. Additional Residential Units are not permitted in a Supportive Housing Residence Type 1 or Type 2.

Supportive Housing Residence Registration Requirements

All supportive housing residence must be registered with the City of Brampton, prior to, or no later than thirty (30) days after, taking possession thereof, or commencing operation therein, as the case may be. Supportive housing residences are not permitted in dwellings that contains Additional Residential Unit(s) (ARUs).

Every Supportive Housing Residence Type 1 or Supportive Housing Residence Type 2 registration application shall include:

  1. A complete application in the form
  2. A copy of the licence from the appropriate Provincial Ministry
  3. A copy of the Insurance Certificate in a form approved by the City under the Name of the Supportive Housing Residence
  4. A letter of inspection from the City's Fire & Emergency Services Department stating the Supportive Housing Residence complies with all Fire Regulations
  5. A letter of inspection from the City's Enforcement and By-law Services Department stating that the Supportive Housing Residence complies with all applicable municipal standards
  6. Written confirmation from the City's Building Department that a building permit or change of use is or is not required to operate the Supportive Housing Residence Type 1 or Type 2
  7. Each Supportive Housing Residence shall comply with the Ontario Building Code, O. Reg. 332/12 and the Ontario Fire Code, O. Reg. 213/07
  8. Payment of a non-refundable registration fee, which includes, where applicable, any unpaid fees for previous calendar years while operating the Supportive Housing Residence business without registration, and any other applicable fees
​Enforcement

Annual inspections are required for fire prevention and property standards, with a property stan​dards inspection fee of $144 and a fire prevention inspection fee of $265.74. Additionally, each occupant incurs a fee of $10.30 for the fire prevention inspection.

Contraventions of the By-law are subject to penalties, with fines ranging from a minimum of $500 to a maximum of $100,000.

Frequently Asked Questions

The SHR Registration By-law 254-2021, replaced the Group Homes By-law, and the City no longer recognizes the term “group homes”. A SHR Type-1 (refer to the SHR Guide) is now permitted citywide in any type of dwelling, only SHR Type-2 have zoning restrictions.

  1. Contact the Building Department and submit your Letter of Use. Please c.c. Supportive.Housing@brampton.ca. After receiving the Building Department clearance, you can move forward in the process to Step 2.
  2. Discuss your Fire Plan with Fire & Emergency Services.
  3. Coordinate your Property Standard and Fire & Emergency Services inspections, this can only be done once you have clearance from the Building Department.
  4. Pay Registration Application Fee. The Cashiers Office will send you a direct Secured Payment Link.
  5. Submit your Application Form, and Affidavit must be signed and witnessed (Commissioner, Notary Pubic etc.) under oath.
  6. Submit your Complete Application Package, in digital PDF format.

The pathway to establishing a privately operated Supportive Housing Residence (SHR)/group home, called an Outside Paid Resource (OPR), for adults with a developmental disability involves a number of community partners in the lead up to an individual being placed with your operation. As the Provincial Ministry is at arm’s length to OPRs, it will be important for a potential operator to establish and build relationships in the developmental services sector to understand what the need is for supportive housing group living arrangements, in a particular community and agencies (such as Community Living agencies) to contract with you as an OPR.

Community agencies will be a key partner in connecting people, who require supportive living services with an available placement at your location. There is not a pathway for OPR businesses to access ministry funding aside from through Community Living agencies, as the ministry is not currently establishing any additional contracts. I am not aware of any grants or other assistance to support OPR plans.

Adult service providers are not licensed. However, OPRs are required to demonstrate they meet the minimum requirements for the health and safety of individuals in care through Quality Assurance Measures (QAM) through regular inspections, which assess compliance to those requirements. Transfer Payment Agencies (like Community Living agencies) hold responsibility for oversight of private operators where adults reside. For a list of Community Living agencies, you can do a google search. For example, Community Living Ontario website is: https://communitylivingontario.ca/. Also, the Central West HealthLine has a list of Community Living agencies at: https://www.centralwesthealthline.ca/listservices.aspx?id=10882.

Please visit the link below to learn more about QAM (ON. Reg 299/10) for adult developmental services programs and consider how to incorporate these requirements as your program develops. Quality Assurance Measures Training

You can also learn more about developmental services and its many programs in Ontario by visiting the Developmental Services Ontario website. The DSO acts as the central point of access for Ontarians wishing to access ministry funded developmental services.

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If you require zoning clearance for a SHR Type 1 or SHR Type 2, as a requirement for provincial/federal license or funding. Please contact the Zoning Department at ZoningInquiries@brampton.ca.

You can review the application and submission requirements for a Zoning Compliance Letter. Please note the Zoning Department will only respond to the questions identified in the application form.

Please note in your compliance request to the Zoning Department, only use the term ‘SUPPORTIVE HOUSING RESIDENCE TYPE 1 or TYPE 2’ do not use the term ‘GROUP HOME’ as you will be instructed that the use is not permitted. The Zoning Department does not recognize Group Homes as a term, since the implementation of the new Supportive Housing Residence Registration By-law.

Determine the type of Supportive Housing you will be providing (children, adults, or seniors) and the number of residents being provided 24hrs care and support. The City does not provide information or guidance as to the type of programming to be provided as a supportive housing operator. If you are providing care and support to children, you must contact Cindy Accardi from the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services (MCCSS), to inquire about the need for a Provincial License. If you are providing care to adults with mental and or physical disabilities, also contact MCCSS regarding provincial policy, training and programming. If you are providing care and support to seniors, you must contact Karen Guzman, from the Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority (RHRA) to inquire about the need for a Provincial License. You may also want to contact Development Services Ontario (DSO) to help you with your programming and funding options.

The Cashiers Office will send you a reply with a Secured Payment Link for your payment. Please ensure the email address you provided is correct, as this is where the Cashiers Office will contact you. The Secured Payment Link will expire at 11:59 pm, on the same day you receive the link. Once the payment is completed (or if the link expires with no payment), an update will be sent back to you on the following business day to advise of the outcome. The Cashiers Office will not contact you via phone, only by email.

Payment should be done prior to submitting your Registration Application Form. Please cut and paste the following and email it to cashiersoffice@brampton.ca:

“Hello Cashiers Office,

Please process the payment details below for renewal of the Supportive Housing Registration application for (address), Brampton.

Organization Name –
Name of Payee –
Email Address –
Phone Number –
GL Account Number – 601427 001 0412 0001
Amount to be paid – $100/application.

Once processed, please forward a copy of the receipt to supportive.housing@brampton.ca as proof of payment.”

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Key Forms and Documents

Related Links

Contact

If you would like to inquire about the City of Brampton’s registration process for Supportive Housing Residences, please contact:

Supportive.Housing@brampton.ca ​
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