Shelter - Shared Accommodation

5-2 Shelter - Shared Accommodation


PURPOSE

1. To allow, in exceptional circumstances, the sharing of shelter expenses rather than room and board where that has been the living arrangements prior to application.

PRINCIPLE

2. Ordinary means of “family support” should not be supplemented by Social Assistance unless hardship would result.

3. Use of this policy should not result in a financial advantage to the parties involved.

POLICY

4. In situations where an applicant is sharing accommodation with another person(s), allowable shelter expenses may be shared on an equitable basis according to the number of persons in the home.

5. Where the applicant is living with a person(s) in receipt of Social Assistance, it is not necessary to share expenses as long as both are eligible for assistance. Since the shelter expenses are already covered, the applicant would receive FCHP only, plus any other benefits for which he/she may be eligible.

6. This policy is not to be used to negate the limits imposed by any other shelter instruction.

PROCEDURE

7. For the purpose of determining equitable expenses, calculation of the number of persons in the home shall include dependants of the applicant and any other person in the home.

8. It shall be determined if the other parties to such an arrangement are recipients of Social Assistance in order to avoid paying twice for the same accommodation.