BC Housing Rental Support Programs for Seniors and Families
Financial, Housing / Shelter, and Services for Seniors
Provided by BC Housing
BC Housing’s SAFER and RAP programs provide monthly financial assistance to help seniors and low- to moderate-income families in British Columbia afford safe and stable rental housing.
The Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER) Program:
Helps make rents affordable for BC seniors with low to moderate incomes. SAFER provides monthly cash payments to subsidize rents for eligible BC residents who are age 60 or over. Existing clients need to reapply each year.
Helps make rents affordable for BC seniors with low to moderate incomes. SAFER provides monthly cash payments to subsidize rents for eligible BC residents who are age 60 or over. Existing clients need to reapply each year.
To be eligible, applicants must meet all of the following:
- Age 60 years or older
- Gross monthly income is less than $3,333.34 monthly or $40,000 annually
- Lived in BC for at least 12 months
- Pays more than 30% of their gross, before tax, monthly household income towards rent for their home. If the applicant lives in a trailer, this includes pad rental (manufactured home) that they own and live in.
Applications can be submitted online, by mail, or in person. For more information regarding the SAFER program, and application details, click here.
Rental Assistance Program (RAP):
The Rental Assistance Program provides eligible low-income families with monthly assistance to help with their monthly rent payments. To qualify, families must have a total before-tax household income of $60,000 or less and have at least one dependent child. Existing clients need to reapply each year.
The Rental Assistance Program provides eligible low-income families with monthly assistance to help with their monthly rent payments. To qualify, families must have a total before-tax household income of $60,000 or less and have at least one dependent child. Existing clients need to reapply each year.
To be eligible applicants must meet all of the following:
- Have a total before-tax annual household income of $60,000 or less
- Have at least one dependent child. A dependent child is unmarried, a stepchild, adopted child or legal ward who is mainly supported by the applicant
- Dependent children are:
- Under 19 years of age, or
- Under 25 years of age and are full-time students at a secondary school, university or vocational institute. Education providers must be a recognized place
- Of study that grants diplomas certificates or degrees, or
- Of any age, because of a mental or physical disability as defined by Canada Revenue Agency
- Have less than $100,000 in assets
- Must file an annual income tax return
- Do not receive income or disability assistance through the B.C. Employment and Assistance Act or the Employment and Assistance for Persons with Disabilities Act. Exception: You may be eligible if you have documentation of your income or disability assistance ending and you are only receiving Medical Services funding (Medical Services Only (MSO))
- More than 30% of their household income goes towards household rent or pad rental for a manufactured home or trailer that they own and occupy
- Lived in BC for at least 12 months
Applications can be submitted online, by mail, or in person. For more information regarding the RAP program, and application details, click here.
Applicants for both programs must meet the following Canadian citizenship requirements:
- Canadian citizen not under sponsorship*
- Individual lawfully admitted into Canada for permanent residence and not under sponsorship*
- Refugee sponsored by the Government of Canada
- Individual who has applied for refugee status
- Ukrainians in Canada under the Canada-Ukrainian Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) visa
”Sponsorship” means someone other than the Government of Canada helped you come to Canada and signed a sponsorship agreement. This rule does not apply to dependent children who are listed on the application with their caregiver or sponsor. May also be waived if BC Housing has accepted that the sponsorship has broken down.
604-433-2218 (Applicant Services)
Toll Free: 1-800-257-7756
#101, 4555 Kingsway, Burnaby, British Columbia, V5H 4V8
Phone Hours: Monday to Friday 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Store Front Hours: Monday to Friday 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Shelter Aid For Elderly Renters (SAFER)
Website: https://www.bchousing.org/housing...
Rental Assistance Program (RAP)
Website: https://www.bchousing.org/housing...
Cost: No cost
Referral options:
- Self-referral
Brochures and Info
Associated Programs/Services
Also offered by BC Housing:
- BC Rebate for Accessible Home Adaptations (BC RAHA)
- Women's Shelters - Transition Houses & Safe Homes List
- BC Housing Listings - Low Cost and Supportive Housing
Availability
Service area: Province-wide + show cities
Service Types Provided
Housing / Shelter
Services for Seniors
Ways to Access
- Includes the provision of funding
The listing of this service in Pathways is not a recommendation or endorsement by Pathways.