Government programs available for tenants and homeowners

In December, when the provincial government announced the renewed lockdown to stop the spread of COVID-19 and protect the province's health care system, the government also announced increased financial help.

Now, parents or guardians of students aged 13 through Grade 12 are eligible for a one-time payment of $200 per eligible student, whether they attend a public or private school or are home-schooled. Application instructions are available at www.ontario.ca/supportforlearners. Applications are open from now until Feb. 8, 2021.

The same link provides information on support for children up to age 12 and for children or youth up to age 21 with special needs. The deadline for applications for that relief is also Feb. 8, 2021.

The government is also holding electricity prices at the off-peak rate of 8.5 cents per kilowatt hour for all time-of-use; this started Jan. 1, 2021. This low rate will be available 24 hours per day, seven days a week for a 28-day period. The off-peak price will automatically be applied to bills of customers who pay regulated rates, including tiered customers.

The province is also helping to pay energy bills through a subsidy program available at www. ontario.ca/page/find-programsreduce-electricity-bill. Any residential or small-business customer with an overdue electricity or natural gas bill will now be eligible to apply. A residential customer can receive up to $750 to help cover their electricity bill and an additional $750 for their natural gas bill. Small businesses can receive up to $1,500 for each. Newly eligible customers can apply for these enhanced benefits through their local utility this month.

The City of Ottawa may also be able to assist you. In addition to providing social assistance through Ontario Works, the

City of Ottawa has implemented the Essential Health and Social Supports (EHSS) program to help Ottawa residents who cannot afford to pay for items or services needed to maintain their housing, and for health items that are not available through other programs.

EHSS may help to pay for things like utility arrears and deposits, rent arrears and deposits, as well as things like urgent dental care, eye exams and glasses. Financial eligibility is based on maximum asset levels and low-income cut-offs. You can get more information at: https://ottawa.ca/en/family-and-socialservices/employment-andfinancial-assistance/ help-peoplenot-receiving-financial-assistance, or by calling 3-1-1.

In addition, the federal government has a number of programs to support households negatively affected by COVID-19. These programs include the Canada Recovery Benefit, the Canada Recovery Caregiver Benefit and the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit. You can learn more at https://www.canada.ca/en/services/benefits/ei/cerb-application/transition.html.