B.C. announces $430 rent relief benefit for low-income seniors

The British Columbia government is granting a one-time$430 benefit to the roughly 20,000 seniors in its support programfor elderly low-income renters.

B.C. Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon says eligible seniors don't need to apply for the payment, which will be sent out this month.

Kahlon says changes to the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters program, known as SAFER, includeincreasing the housing supplement by $110 a month on average, and expanding eligibility for benefits to seniors withannual incomes of up to $37,240, compared to the previous $33,000 limit.

Other changes will include the possible annual review and amendment of rent ceilings, which are used to determine how muchrental assistance a senior receives.

Former B.C. seniors advocate Isobel Mackenzie criticized the seniors aid program in her final report last month, saying the average Vancouver rent is more than double the maximum monthly subsidy of $803 a month.

Mackenzie said at the time that the rent ceiling should be raised to meet the average rent of a SAFER recipient and be allowed to increase annually to address allowable yearly rent increases in B.C.

Kahlon says the improvements reflect the province's response given "the dollars we had available."

"These supports are important, but this is just one of the things that we're doing to support seniors," Kahlon says, referring to renter tax credits and efforts to expand affordable housing options.

"So we are doing a lot of different steps to support seniors," he says. "This, I think, is just one additional piece that will
help some of the more vulnerable seniors in our communities."

Kahlon says the province expects the number of seniors under SAFER to grow to 25,000 with the new, expanded eligibility threshold.