Housing
Housing supports and resources help people find and keep a home that works for their needs. They can offer support with finding a home, paying for it or fixing problems with it.
This section includes information, services and programs related to housing that are available throughout B.C. and may be helpful as you age.
BC Housing
Assisted Living Residences
Assisted Living Residences are homes where older people can live when they need some extra help with daily things like getting dressed, cooking or remembering to take their medicine. This website shows you all the Assisted Living Residences in B.C.
Learn more about Assisted Living Residences here.
BC Housing Tenant Handbook
The BC Housing Tenant Handbook is a book that helps people who live in homes in British Columbia know their rights. It has important information that tells them about their rights and responsibilities, and how things work in their homes.
Read the BC Housing Tenant Handbook here.
BC Rebate for Accessible Home Adaptations
Through the BC Rebate for Accessible Home Adaptations (BC RAHA), eligible low- and moderate-income households can receive up to $20,000 in rebates to complete home adaptations.
The program allows seniors and people with permanent disabilities to gain greater independence within their homes.
Learn about the BC Rebate for Accessible Home Adaptations here.
Canada-BC Housing Benefit (CBCHB)
The Canada-BC Housing Benefit (CBCHB) helps make rent cheaper for people who need it. BC Housing decides who can get this help from The Housing Registry or from groups that help find homes. It helps different groups like people who might not have a home, women and kids who need safety, Indigenous people, and those who live with a disability. The benefit can go to you or your landlord to help pay for your place to live.
Learn more about the Canada-BC Housing Benefit here.
Emergency Shelter Program
Existing Rent Supplements
This service is only available for those who are already eligible to have their rent be cheaper with the government paying a portion of it. Every year, you need to tell BC Housing about your income and who lives with you to make sure you still qualify for help. If anything changes, like how much money your family makes or if someone new moves in or leaves, they need to tell BC Housing right away.
Learn about Existing Rent Supplements here.
HEART and HEARTH
Some people don’t have homes and live outside in unsafe places in British Columbia. BC Housing and its partners are helping them with a program called HEART to find safe places to stay and give them help. They also have a program called HEARTH to build new homes for them.
Learn about the Heart and Hearth programs here.
Homeless Outreach Program
BC Housing funds outreach and support programs that help people who experience homelessness or are at risk of homelessness.
Outreach workers meet their clients where they are — on the street, in a shelter, or in a temporary place.
There is no cost for the services available in the Homeless Outreach Program.
Learn about the Homeless Outreach Program here.
Homeless Prevention Program
Secondary Suite Incentive Program
The Secondary Suite Incentive Program (SSIP) helps homeowners create affordable housing in their communities. The program will provide money to help homeowners create a new secondary suite on their property to be rented out for less money than normally.
There are different rules around this program to receive the money from the government.
Learn more about the Secondary Suite Incentive Program here.
Seniors' Supportive Housing
The Seniors’ Supportive Housing Program helps older adults and people with disabilities in British Columbia. It offers homes and services to those who are 55 or older and people with disabilities who need some help but can still live on their own. The apartments are made for independence with a little bit of extra support, but not for those who need a lot of help or medical care.
Learn more about Seniors Supportive Housing here.
Supportive Housing
Supportive housing is low-cost housing that the government funds, with on-site supports for single adults, seniors and people with disabilities at risk of or experiencing homelessness. These supports help people find and maintain stable housing.
Learn more about supportive housing here.
Supports and Resources
Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA)
The Aboriginal Housing Management Association (AHMA) in B.C. helps Indigenous people find safe and culturally respectful homes, managing nearly 10,000 housing units off-reserve. They provide affordable housing, shelters, and support services like mental health and addiction programs.
Visit the Aboriginal Housing Management Association website here.
Assisted Living in B.C.
Assisted living provides housing, meals and support for individuals who need help with daily activities but do not require full-time medical care. It aims to promote independence while offering assistance with tasks like bathing, dressing and medication management.
Learn about Assisted Living in B.C. here.
Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation - Aging in Place
Aging in place is the ability to live in the same home or community safely, independently and comfortably as you age. CMHC supports people to learn about helpful low and no-cost home changes to ensure safety at home, and shares people’s success stories.
Learn about Aging in Place here.
Complex Care Housing
Complex care housing supports people living with significant mental health, addictions or concurrent challenges, and other functional needs who are at risk of homelessness.
CLBC individuals are eligible for these services.
Learn about Complex Care Housing here.
Emergency Shelter Map
This map show shelters in B.C. There are also other places to find shelters, like the Shelter and Street Help Line from bc211.
If you call a shelter, they can tell you if they have any beds free and until what time you can come in. If they’re full, the people there can help find another place to stay.
Find the Emergency Shelter Map here.
Home Owner Grant for Persons with Disabilities
The home owner grant for people with disabilities in British Columbia helps reduce property taxes for those living with disabilities or their spouse/relative. To qualify, the property assessment must be below a certain amount, though smaller grants are possible for higher assessments. Eligibility includes being a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, living in B.C., and using the property as your main home.
Learn about the Home Owner Grant for Persons with Disabilities here.
Home Renovation Tax Credit for Seniors and Persons with Disabilities
Maintaining Seniors Dependence Through Home Adaptions
The majority of seniors wish to continue to live in their own homes for as long as possible. However, many homes are not well designed to meet our changing needs as we age.
This Guide identifies the types of difficulties that seniors can experience and describes changes you can make to your home to help overcome these difficulties.
Read about Maintaining Seniors Dependence Through Home Adaptions here.
Residential Tenancy Branch
Residential Tenancy Law in British Columbia
This resource may be helpful for people renting homes who would like to know their rights.
Rick Hansen Foundation
The Rick Hansen Foundation helps make buildings more accessible for everyone, especially people with disabilities. Their vision is that people with disabilities are thriving in an accessible, inclusive and healthy world.
Visit the Rick Hansen Foundation website here.
The Safe Living Guide: A Guide to Home Safety for Seniors
Home should be safe, but seniors can sometimes get hurt there, especially from falls. This guide helps seniors make their homes safer by fixing hazards and being careful, so they can stay safe and comfortable for a long time.
Read the Safe Living Guide here.