The County of Oxford (as a provincially designated Service Manager) assumed the responsibility for subsidizing social housing costs in 1998. In December 2000, the Social Housing Reform Act, 2000 was proclaimed making the County the sole shareholder for the public housing units. Under this same Act and associated Regulations, the County also became responsible for the funding and administrative functions of the municipal, private and co-operative non-profit social housing units effective December 1, 2001. (The funding and administrative responsibility does not include any Federal unilateral co-operative non-profits.) Subsidized housing is available in over 1,000 units situated in 10 municipalities within the County of Oxford. To allow applicants to have easier access to social housing, Oxford County has developed a co-ordinated and centralized application system to serve those social housing providers who are required, under the Act, to participate in such a system.

Rent is calculated based on 30% of the gross household income to a maximum of the established "market rent" for the unit in the development in which you will reside (or to a maximum of the designated Household Income Limit, whichever is lower). Rent for those persons in receipt of social assistance from (Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support) is in accordance with a scale established in the Social Housing Reform Act, 2000, Ontario Regulation 298/01 and may be changed periodically. The minimum rent for a unit is $85.00 plus any applicable utility charges.

Some market rent units are available in private and co-operative non-profit housing developments. These units are rented for amounts similar to private sector units. Applications for market rent units must be made directly with the applicable housing provider.