What is subsidized housing?

Glen Arbor, a supportive seniors housing development in Williams Lake subsidized by BC Housing.

Click on these links to find out about subsidized housing:

Definition of subsidized housing

Subsidized housing encompasses all types of housing whereby the provincial government provides some type of subsidy or rent assistance, including public, non-profit and co-operative housing, as well as rent supplements for people living in private market housing. Non-profits and co-operatives are often called housing providers .

Financial support for subsidized housing is generally administered based on “rent-geared-to-income”. Rent-geared-to-income is for low-to-moderate income households. Tenants pay rent based on the gross income of the household rather than paying the market rate. Affordable rent is defined as costing no more than 30% of a household’s total gross monthly income, subject to a minimum rent that tenants will be asked to pay based on the number of persons living in the home. Rent-geared-to-income units include all public housing stock and many developments managed by non-profit and co-operative housing providers.

Subsidized housing developments are for people with low to moderate incomes, including:

Seniors
People with mental or physical disabilities
Individuals who are homeless or at risk of homelessness
Women and children fleeing abuse relationships
Aboriginal people
Low-income families

Types of subsidized housing

Subsidized housing in British Columbia includes public housing managed by BC Housing and buildings operated by non-profit societies and housing co-operatives.

Subsidized housing in British Columbia provides homes for approximately 83,900 households, in over 150 communities across the province. More than 720 housing providers—non-profit societies and housing co-operatives—manage about 59,500 of these units. BC Housing manages an additional 7,800 public housing units with the remainder of these units are rent supplements administered through programs such as the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER) and Rental Assistance Program.

1. Public housing

BC Housing manages 7,800 public housing units for low-income families, seniors and people with disabilities. We also fund more than 300 group homes for people with various special needs.

2. Non-profit housing

Non-profit housing societies also manage subsidized housing developments across the province, and select tenants for these buildings. Non-profit societies are landlords under the Residential Tenancy Act.

3. Co-operative housing (Co-ops)

Housing co-operatives are jointly owned and managed by residents, who become co-operative members. Members participate in decision-making, share the responsibilities of running the co-operative, and select new members.

4. Rent supplements
BC Housing provides rent assistance to seniors and low-income, working families in the private rental market through the following programs:

Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER) - The SAFER Program provides direct cash assistance to eligible residents of British Columbia who are age 60 or over and who pay rent for their homes.

Rental Assistance Program - This program provides rental assistance for low-income, working families with children under the age of 19 and a household income of less than $20,000. Housing assistance is paid directly to eligible households to assist these families in meeting monthly rent payments in the private market.

5. Low end of market units

Some non-profit and co-operative housing developments have low end market units to rent, as well as rent-geared-to-income units. Market unit rents are set at, or slightly below, the rents charged for similar apartments in the private market.

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