Starting April 1, 2025, and as part of Budget 2025, the Rental Assistance Program (RAP) and the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER) programs have expanded eligibility criteria that will benefit more than 30,000 households in B.C. Existing eligible recipients will also see an automatic increase in their average benefits, providing them with more financial assistance to contribute toward rent. These changes build on the improvements to SAFER and the one-time RAP benefit introduced in April 2024.

Improvements to RAP include:

• increasing the household income limit for eligibility from $40,000 to $60,000 (before taxes) is expected to nearly double the number of families eligible for support from approximately 3,200 to nearly 6,000;
• increasing the average family supplement for existing recipients from $400 per month to $700 per month;
• implementing single provincial rent ceilings based on household size, which can now be reviewed and amended annually and will help ensure rent support for people remains adequate and flexible to changes; and
• removing the requirement for employment income, which will result in low-income families that are not receiving income or disability assistance being able to receive rental assistance if other eligibility requirements are met.

Enhancements to SAFER include:

• increasing the household income limit for eligibility from $37,240 to $40,000, which is expected to benefit as many as 1,600 more seniors, for an estimated total of 25,000 SAFER recipients; and
• increasing the average supplement by nearly 30%, bringing the average monthly subsidy for existing seniors to $337.

Through Budget 2025, the Province is investing an additional $375 million over the next three years to enhance both RAP and SAFER programs. This includes the $75 million committed through an agreement with the B.C. Green Party caucus to enhance the programs and deliver additional support for families and seniors.

To ensure that eligible families and seniors are fully informed about the support available to them, BC Housing has launched a public awareness campaign.

Learn More:

For information about the Rental Assistance Program and the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters program, visit this website.

To learn about the steps the Province is taking to tackle the housing crisis and deliver affordable homes for British Columbians, visit here.