Rental Assistance Program - The Rental Assistance Program provides eligible low-income working families with cash assistance to help with their monthly rent payments.

Subsidized housing : Aboriginal peoples can also apply to live in subsidized housing in either public, non-profit or co-operative housing. Tenants pay rent based on the gross income of the household rather than paying at the market rate. Affordable rent is defined as either a) An amount costing no more than 30% of a household's total gross monthly income or b) A predetermined minimum rent amount based on the number of persons living in the home, as determined by the housing provider. Click here to learn more about how to apply to subsidized housing.
Shelter Aid For Elderly Renters : Lower-income seniors renting in the private market may be eligible to receive rent supplements through the SAFER program.
Independent Living BC : Some seniors need help with daily activities as they age, but do not need 24-hour care. The Independent Living BC program provides private apartments with some support services for people who need some assistance to remain independent. Regional health authorities in BC select residents for this program, and fill out the application forms for these residents.

Other Aboriginal Housing Programs

There are two other housing programs for Aboriginal peoples currently under development, the Aboriginal Housing Initiative , to help build new, affordable housing off-reserve and also, the Aboriginal Homeless Outreach Program , to directly engage homeless Aboriginal people living on the streets.

Aboriginal Housing Initiative
The Aboriginal Housing Initiative (AHI) provides funding to develop new, affordable housing for Aboriginal people living off-reserve. This initiative is part of Housing Matters BC , a provincial housing strategy, and helps to ensure that Aboriginal housing needs are being addressed.

Aboriginal Homeless Outreach Program
The Aboriginal Homeless Outreach Program continues the work of the provincial housing strategy, Housing Matters BC , and the work of the Premier’s Task Force on Homelessness, Mental Illness and Addictions. It directly engages homeless Aboriginal people living on the streets and provides access to housing, income assistance, and community-based support services to help break the cycle of homelessness. The program aims to reduce the number of Aboriginals who are homeless by providing direct access to immediate housing with linkages to the necessary support services to address the homeless individual’s housing, health, and cultural needs.

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