A total of 35 more low-income households in qathet are now receiving a monthly rent supplement via the qathet Homelessness Prevention Program, administered by Lift Community Services (Lift), through the Canada-British Columbia Housing Benefit (CBC-HB).
According to a media release from Lift, there are now 49 local individuals receiving the monthly support.
The qathet Homelessness Prevention Program works on a referral basis in partnership with local service providers to ensure recipients have access to supports to help them stay housed, the release stated. Once approved, recipients receive a financial contribution to their rent each month, calculated according to their income, rent amount and family size. In qathet, the average supplement is $440 monthly.
“Given the rising cost of rent in the region, there has been a lot of interest in – and need for – this program,” stated Julie Jenkins, Lift’s housing services manager. “We’re pleased to say that all 49 supplements have now been distributed in the community.”
Previously, there were 14 rent supplements available in the qathet region and the province made 35 more available in June of this year. Lift invited local service providers, including Tla’amin Nation, Vancouver Coastal Health, the ministry of children and family development, ministry of social development and poverty reduction, qathet SAFE, Powell River Youth and Family, Strive, inclusion Powell River, qathet School District, and others to identify and refer eligible recipients and assist with applications to the program, with an emphasis on families with children, according to the release.
Rent supplements are a simple and effective homelessness prevention tool for people who can maintain a market rental but simply don’t have the funds to cover rising monthly rents and other expenses, the release stated. There is no time limit to the rent supplement, and once approved, individuals continue to receive support as long as they remain eligible.
“Through the application process, we heard story after story of seniors and families who were one small crisis away from being on the streets,” stated Jenkins. “Some had received eviction notices and were literally days away from registering at the shelter. Others were choosing between rent and groceries for their kids.
“Lift has ambitious goals to address homelessness in our community and to be successful, we need to tackle it from all sides. I can’t overstate the value of prevention programs like this one.”
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