The Housing Help Association of Ontario 1.68

In 2008, the Housing Help Association of Ontario (HHAO) received a two year Ontario Trillium Foundation Grant to make the dream of an association a reality. Representatives from the following Housing Help Centres formed the first executive committee: Georgian Triangle Housing Resource Centre; Peterborough Housing Resource Centre; The Help Centre (Northumberland County); Sudbury Canadian Red Cross - Housing Help Program; Hamilton Housing Help Centre; COSTI - North York Housing Help and East York East Toronto Family Resources. During 2008, housing help conferences were held in Toronto and Kingston.

In 2009, HHAO launched findhousinghelp.ca, the first province-wide housing help website - a portal to a growing and comprehensive housing help service providers across Ontario. In addition, HHAO implemented sustainable association governance and online tools to enhance communication between housing help service providers.

In 2011, HHAO piloted housing help training initiatives in large and small communities across Ontario and conducted housing help related research and policy development. In addition, HHAO was selected by Enbridge to administer their Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) and to bring a community voice and perspective to the Ontario Energy Board on policies affecting low income households across Ontario.

In 2012, the Hamilton Housing Help Centre became the trustee for the HHAO. A new association website was created to connect people and agencies engaged in housing help services. Additional housing resources, webinars, and tool kits were added to the findhousinghelp.ca website, and the site was translated into French.

In 2012, the HHAO developed additional resources and workshops that focused on increasing awareness and understanding of the unique issues of rural and remote homelessness.

Each year membership has grown as the HHAO actively engages in the issues of housing and homelessness in partnership with all levels of government and other social service sectors.