The applications for the temporary rental supplement in B.C. have opened and the provincial government has released more details about the funds.
According to the B.C. government, the program will provide $300 per month for eligible households with no dependents and $500 a month for eligible households with dependents. Eligible roommates will each be able to apply for the supplement.
The program will provide $300 per month for eligible households with no dependents and $500 per month for eligible households with dependents. Eligible roommates will each be able to apply for the supplement.
The rental supplement is available on a per-household basis to those who meet all of the following criteria:
- receiving or eligible for Employment Insurance, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit or experiencing a 25% reduction in monthly employment income as a result of COVID-19;
- 2019 household income of less than $74,150 for households with no dependents and $113,040 for households with dependents;
- paying more than 30% of current/reduced gross monthly income towards rent; and
- not receiving any other rent subsidy from any level of government, including subsidized housing or rent supplements, such as Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER) or the Rental Assistance Program (RAP).
The supplement will be available for April, May and June 2020. Renters who are eligible for the program and have already paid their April rent are still able to receive the rental supplement for this month, the government said.
The supplement will be paid directly to landlords.
The government said once an application is completed and processed, funds will be direct deposited within approximately seven days.
The province has also halted evictions and frozen rent increases for existing tenants the pandemic, is allowing landlords to restrict the use of common areas to protect against the transmission of COVID-19, and has given renters the right to control who enters their units, except in emergency circumstances.
The tenant must start the rental supplement application and the landlord will complete it. The application is available online at https://bchousing.org/bctrs.
You can also get more information by calling 1-877-757-2577.
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