The OCHE Approach
We value your needs
Our team recognizes the value of every individual and that everyone's situation is unique.
Our Early Resolution Officers use the "OCHE approach" to understand the challenges that have caused your rent arrears (unpaid rent) and will work with you to find a solution.
We have helped many tenants who were behind on rent payments due to unforeseen medical expenses, losing their job, or not being able to complete the paperwork required for their annual Household Income and Assets Review Form.
- Early Resolution Officers help tenants to understand the eviction process, which includes how the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) determines when someone will be evicted and what tenants can expect if TCHC pursues eviction at the LTB.
- Educate tenants on their rights and responsibilities as RGI tenants so they understand what is expected of them.
- Identify supports that are available to tenants within the community that will support their overall wellbeing in addition to housing stabilization.
- When the OCHE receives a file from TCHC, Early Resolution Officers (ERO)s begin working on it immediately. The OCHE does not want arrears to continue accumulating while the file is being worked on at the OCHE. This means Early Resolution Officers will urgently attempt to meet with tenants so that the problem can be resolved quickly. Sometimes more than one meeting is required, in these cases, follow-up meetings will follow closely after the first meeting.
- The most important part of resolving arrears of rent is determining what is causing them to begin with. The Early Resolution Officer will work closely with the tenant to identify exactly what is needed to remove the barrier to paying rent. The Early Resolution Officer will link the tenant with community partners should longer-term support be necessary to achieve housing stability.
- Some tenants are eligible for external funding to help with overdue rent. Tenants may qualify for funding through the City of Toronto, Ontario Works, the Ontario Disability Support Program, or the Rent Bank. If you are eligible for external funding, the Early Resolution Officer will assist you to apply for it.
- Financial problem solving, money management, opening the right kind of bank account, and reviewing spending patterns can be helpful to identify where small changes can assist tenants to stretch their dollars further. Early Resolution Officers do not wish to assist tenants to enter into repayment agreements with TCHC unless they can comfortably afford to make the payments each month.
- Sometimes people need a little help speaking to family members who could be willing to provide support or encouragement. If a tenant wishes, the ERO will help connect them to family and friends for support.
- The ERO will work with the tenant and TCHC to reach an agreement on a repayment amount that the tenant can afford to pay each month on top of their monthly rent. These Repayment Agreements allow tenants to remain housed while they pay off their arrears of rent in manageable amounts over time.