Whereas seniors, in the increasing demographic of those over 65, in rural BC have limited range of options for housing; And whereas rural BC local municipalities have limited financial resources to support seniors housing options that allow seniors to age in place in their home community due to financial, social, health and housing vulnerabilities experienced by this increasing demographic: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request the provincial government to provide BC Housing with additional funding and support to facilitate new affordable seniors housing in rural areas.
Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs Many seniors in BC are challenged to access suitable housing, manage rising costs, and have the supports they need to maintain residence in their homes. Seniors on fixed incomes are especially impacted by rising inflation. To support low- and moderate-income seniors, government, through BC Housing, provides the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters SAFER, and the BC Rebate for Accessible Home Adaptation RAHA, as well as investments in new affordable rentals through the Community Housing Fund and Indigenous Housing Fund IHF, and Seniors Supportive Housing Program. Since 2017, there are over 13,000 units complete or underway through the Community Housing Fund, including many projects in rural communities. In addition, more than 3,220 IHF homes are now open or underway throughout BC. SAFER provides support for low- to moderate-income people aged 60 who rent in the private market. Assistance is calculated based on household size, income, rent amount, and location. Recently, the Province has made significant improvements and provided new funding to this program. Budget 2025 invests an additional 375 million over the next three years to enhance both the SAFER program and the Rental Assistance Program RAP, helping low-income families and seniors afford their rent. SAFER program improvements include increasing the household income limit for eligibility from 37,240 to 40,000, increasing the maximum monthly rent ceiling from 931 to 1,150, and increasing the average monthly supplement by nearly 30 percent from approximately 260 to 337. These changes will help an estimated 1,600 more seniors to qualify for the SAFER program. RAHA provides a rebate of up to 20,000 lifetime max for adaptations that directly address an individuals permanent disability or loss of ability and improve their ability to perform the basic activities of daily living. Recipients can be homeowners or landlords making adaptations for an eligible tenant. Government also provides supports to enable seniors who own homes to manage rising costs and age in place. This includes BCs Home Owner Grant, property tax deferral, and the Home Renovation Tax Credit. BCs Home Owner Grant reduces the amount of property taxes paid each year on a principal residence. Seniors aged 65 that own property assessed at 2.175 million or less may qualify for a higher grant amount totaling 845 in the Capital Regional District, Metro Vancouver Regional District, and the Fraser Valley and 1,045 in other areas of the province. BC residents aged 55 can also defer annual property taxes on their principal residence, partially or in full, if they have a minimum equity of 25 percent of the propertys assessed value. The Home Renovation Tax Credit is available to seniors aged 65 or persons with disabilities to assist with the costs of certain renovations that improve accessibility. The maximum credit amount per home is 1,000 per tax year, calculated at 10 percent of qualifying renovation expenses.