Earlier last year, SAC called on Council to ask the Province of British Columbia to increase the subsidy for adults participating in the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters program (SAFER) administered by BC Housing. The request was made in response to the growing gap between low-income seniors’ monthly rent and their SAFER subsidy.
On March 12, our Council liaison, Councillor Tony Tang, brought forward a motion calling on Council to ask the Province to increase the SAFER subsidy limit. Council unanimously passed the motion, which was subsequently endorsed by the Lower Mainland Local Government Association and the Union of British Columbia Municipalities (UBCM).
We are pleased to announce that the Province has responded to this request and has increased the SAFER subsidy limit. The increase is lower than we would have liked, but we are nonetheless pleased that the Province considered our request and provided some kind of increase.
