Finding affordable housing in the East Kootenay can be difficult as more people compete for available rentals.
However, the July report from Rentals.ca shows some relief for renters in British Columbia: average asking rents decreased by 4.5 per cent overall, including a 4.1 per cent drop for purpose-built rentals and apartments.
BC Housing offers the Rental Assistance Program (RAP) that provides eligible low-income families with monthly support to help cover rent payments.
You may be eligible for the Rental Assistance Program if you meet all the following:
- You have a total before-tax annual household income of $60,000 or less
- You have at least one dependent child. A dependent child is unmarried, a stepchild, adopted child or legal ward, mainly supported by you
- 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
- You have less than $100,000 in assets
- You file an annual income tax return
- You 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 your household income goes towards household rent or pad rental for a manufactured home or trailer that you own and occupy
- You have lived in BC for 12 months
- You meet the program residency 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
How to apply?
Complete a RAP application and submit online, mail or in person.
For more information on the application process, click here.
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