Housing advocates in the largest city of northern Ontario are concerned about the long-term impact of “cash for keys” agreements, which they say are leading to homelessness. This type of agreement involves landlords offering tenants a sum of money, often equivalent to two months’ rent or more, to vacate the property. By accepting these offers, tenants can bypass the lengthy process of hearings through the Landlord and Tenant Board.
According to Raymond Landry, the coordinator of Sudbury’s Homelessness Network, while the cash offers may seem appealing initially, the city’s low vacancy rates and high rents often result in tenants struggling to secure alternative housing after a few months. Many tenants who receive these offers are already in vulnerable positions and rely on assistance programs such as Ontario Works and the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) to afford their rent.
Evie Ali, the executive director of the Go-Give Project, a charitable organization supporting individuals with substance use disorders in Sudbury, expressed concerns about cash for keys agreements being used as a way to expedite evictions. She highlighted a trend where many individuals who accept these offers end up homeless shortly afterward, with a noticeable increase in such cases over the past two years.
Sherry Jordan, the owner of Jordan Group Property Management overseeing around 300 properties in Greater Sudbury, mentioned that her group frequently offers cash for keys deals to tenants who have fallen behind on rent payments. Landlords opt for this approach to avoid lengthy legal processes and to facilitate property sales or transitions to new tenants. Jordan emphasized that accepting the cash offer can benefit tenants who were already in arrears and facing eventual eviction.
Additionally, Jordan stressed the importance of government assistance for individuals who cannot afford market rent in Sudbury, where prices can exceed $1,000 per month for a bachelor apartment. She called for increased housing subsidies from the provincial government to ensure that individuals relying on programs like Ontario Works and ODSP can meet their basic needs amidst rising living costs.
On the topic of ODSP rates, a spokesperson for Ontario’s Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, Michael Parsa, highlighted a 20% increase in rates since September 2022. The most recent adjustment, tied to inflation, led to a 2.8% rise in rates in July 2025. The spokesperson also mentioned a 400% increase in the earnings exemption for ODSP recipients, allowing individuals to earn an additional $200 per month without affecting their social assistance benefits.
Despite these adjustments, the Ontario Living Wage Network argues that a single person in northern Ontario would need to earn at least $21.10 per hour to cover basic living expenses, emphasizing the ongoing challenges faced by vulnerable populations in the region.