Shelter and Housing

The County of Oxford owns and operates several Rent-Geared-To-Income (RGI) units in Oxford County.

If you are a tenant in a County-owned unit, visit the tenant services page to send an online maintenance request or tenant complaint.

A booklet that provides helpful information for those residing in Oxford County Housing, see the Tenant Handbook.

 Human Services periodically receives grants to help people who are:

• having difficulty paying rent
• at risk of having their utilities disconnected
• at risk of becoming homeless

Programs to help people with rent and utilities include:

• Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) Rent Assistance: One-time emergency financial assistance to pay electricity bill of up to $500 per household per year. Program is delivered by the Woodstock Salvation Army.
• Winter Warmth Fund: For Tillsonburg residents, a one-time utility payment assistance program for heating. Program is delivered by the Tillsonburg Salvation Army.

Short term accommodation for those who are homeless or experiencing a crisis. Offers basic necessities: a place to sleep, shower, do laundry, get clothing, and eat or get money for food.

Emergency shelters in Oxford County include:

• Inn out of the Cold: Overnight emergency shelters that primarily operate at Old St. Paul's Anglican Church, Woodstock, and Avondale United Church, Tillsonburg, as well as day time emergency shelter space that operates at College Avenue Church, Woodstock.
• Domestic Abuse Services Oxford County: A safe, secure space for women and their children impacted by domestic abuse and/or homelessness.
• Salvation Army Emergency Housing & Advocacy Centre: Temporary emergency housing, tenant rights and more

Supportive, temporary accommodation to bridge the gap from homelessness to permanent housing. It offers structure, supervision, support (e.g., for addictions and mental health), life skills, and education and training).

Transitional Housing units include:

• Ingamo Homes: Ingamo Homes is a transitional program with housing that supports women and their children.

Permanent, affordable housing that provides support services to help people live more stable lives. Often for those confronted with  homelessness, substance abuse issues, mental health, disabilities (e.g., intellectual, mobility or sensory) or other serious challenges that
prohibit stable housing.

Individuals or households who need a home that is modified to make it accessible, or support services so they can live independently in the community, can apply for Modified and Supportive Housing units. 

Modified and supportive housing units include:

• Cheshire Homes: For adults with significant physical disabilities and frail seniors.
• Indwell Care: A Christian charity that creates affordable housing communities for people seeking health, wellness and belonging.
• Canadian Mental Health Association: CMHA-Oxford offers long and short-term housing options, including housing for people dealing with mental illness, homelessness or addictions

Housing primarily offered by the private sector with rents that are typical of the area for a similarly sized unit. In 2022, the Average Market Rent determined by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation for a one-bedroom apartment in Oxford County is $1,062. Although, actual rent rates charged by landlords are now between $1,200 and $1,700 per month.

In the case of ownership housing, the least expensive of:

i. Housing for which the purchase price results in annual accommodation costs which do not exceed 30 percent of gross annual household income for low and moderate-income households; or,

ii. Housing for which the purchase price is at least 10 percent below the average purchase price of a resale unit in the Oxford County market area. 

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Oxford County’s My Second Unit helps homeowners plan and finance a secondary, self-contained dwelling unit in their home with an interest-free, forgivable loan of up to $15,000.

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