The Province of BC has announced several enhancements to its Rental Assistance Program (RAP) and the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER) program, which will expand eligibility criteria to the benefit of more than 30,000 households. Existing recipients will also see an automatic increase in their average benefits, providing them with more financial assistance to contribute toward rent.

“With the rising cost of living, we’re enhancing supports through the RAP and SAFER programs to ensure more families and seniors can access essential financial help,” said Ravi Kahlon, Minister of Housing and Municipal Affairs. “These changes will help people stay in their homes in the communities they love and allow us to support more people as they manage the challenges of rent and living expenses.”

Improvements to RAP include:

• increasing the household income limit for eligibility from $40,000 to $60,000 (before taxes) is expected to nearly double the number of families eligible for support from approximately 3,200 to nearly 6,000;
• increasing the average family supplement for existing recipients from $400 per month to $700 per month;
• implementing single provincial rent ceilings based on household size, which can now be reviewed and amended annually and will help ensure rent support for people remains adequate and flexible to changes; and
• removing the requirement for employment income, which will result in low-income families that are not receiving income or disability assistance being able to receive rental assistance if other eligibility requirements are met.

Enhancements to SAFER include:

• increasing the household income limit for eligibility from $37,240 to $40,000, which is expected to benefit as many as 1,600 more seniors, for an estimated total of 25,000 SAFER recipients; and
• increasing the average supplement by nearly 30%, bringing the average monthly subsidy for existing seniors to $337.

“The SAFER program is an essential support for low-income B.C. seniors living on fixed incomes who are struggling with the rising cost of rent, groceries and other items needed for healthy aging,” said Dan Levitt, B.C. seniors advocate. “I’m pleased more seniors will be eligible to receive SAFER, however, I’d still like to see the SAFER program be indexed to inflation and have government commit to ensuring the program is meeting its goal to have recipients paying no more than 30 per cent of their income on rent. The seniors’ demographic in B.C. is increasing rapidly and supports such as SAFER are critically important for the quality of life for low-income seniors.”

Through Budget 2025, the Province is investing an additional $375 million over the next three years to enhance both the RAP and SAFER programs. This includes the $75 million committed through an agreement with the B.C. Green Party caucus to boost the programs and deliver more supports for families and seniors.

For more info, visit: BC Gov News