As rental prices continue to climb, Nanaimo City Council is taking steps to ease the burden on those most vulnerable. (File photo)

By Ian Holmes

housing help

Nanaimo councillors boost supplements for vulnerable renters

Sep 12, 2023 | 4:06 PM

NANAIMO — City councillors increased funds designated to help marginalized people remain housed while in a persistent tight and expensive rental market.

At a Monday, Sept. 11 council meeting, increases were unanimously approved to fund a pair of programs, including $150,000 toward a Rent Supplement Program (RSP) to be selected following an expressions of interest process.

The City’s social planner Christy Wood said the funds will add to the estimated 1,200 Nanaimo households receiving primarily ongoing rental supplements through several service providers.

“Rent supplement payments are usually between $300 and $500 and actual payments will vary depending on the funder, depending on the household and depending on the need. That’s why it’s really hard to capture how many rent supplement payments are happening in the city of Nanaimo.”

The specific $150,000 Nanaimo council is poised to hand out follows up on a $125,000 commitment made in 2016 which benefitted Connective, formally known as Nanaimo Region John Howard Society.

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Initial funding provided by the City aided nearly a third of the 65 people assisted in the Connective program.

During a detailed presentation to councillors, Wood said maintaining and securing housing is becoming an increasing concern among specific populations.

“These include renters with low or moderate incomes, individuals with special needs, seniors, families, youth, Indigenous people and people experiencing homelessness,” Wood said, referencing a housing needs report shown to Nanaimo council earlier this year.

Councillors also approved a $75,000 top-up to the existing rent bank program, also operated by Connective Society, which started allocating funds in 2021.

The fund is designed for low-to-moderate income earners facing eviction due to short-term crisis situations.

Rent bank beneficiaries need to demonstrate an ability to pay the interest-free loans back.

The $75,000 City of Nanaimo commitment allows the local rent bank service to have funds until next March, while BC Rent Bank and City staff review ways to ensure the loans are being targeted properly.

Both housing cost subsidy programs are funded through a relatively new province-wide short-term accommodation tax program that the City noted has generated more than $693,000 since 2019 to be used for affordable housing initiatives.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes