The Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER) program helps make rents affordable for BC seniors with low to moderate incomes. SAFER provides monthly cash payments to subsidize rents for eligible BC residents who are age 60 or over and who pay rent for their homes. The links below provide more information on SAFER.

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Who is eligible for SAFER?
How is SAFER calculated? (includes SAFER calculator)
SAFER News
SAFER brochure and application forms
SAFER video
Fast facts about SAFER
Who to contact
Frequently Asked Questions

As of April 2008, BC Housing provides SAFER subsidies to more than 15,253 senior households renting apartments in the private market, including singles, couples and people sharing a unit.

SAFER News

Changes in the residency requirements

Effective June 1, 2006, low income seniors who rent their homes and who have lived in B.C. for one year will be eligible to apply for SAFER. The Province of British Columbia has now removed the 10-year Canadian residency requirement for SAFER eligibility. Read the news release .

Offering BC seniors more

Effective October 1, 2005, the Government of British Columbia doubled its funding for rent assistance under the SAFER program. Rent ceiling have been increased across the entire province, and separate rent ceilings have been established for the higher average rents in the Greater Vancouver Regional District. The program has also been expanded to include seniors who pay pad rental fees for owner-occupied manufactured homes. Read the news release .

SAFER brochure and application forms

You can download the following SAFER information:

SAFER application form
SAFER brochure - Available in English , Chinese
* Includes the June 1, 2006 eligibility criteria changes.

To have the SAFER brochure or application form mailed to you, call 604-433-2218 or 1-800-257-7756, or complete the online request form .

*Please note that the type size will appear very small online. To read these documents more easily, print copies to read, or click on the magnifying glass at the top of the screen, and then on the document as many times as needed, to increase the type size.

Who to contact for more information?

For more information on how to apply for SAFER, call BC Housing at 604-433-2218, or 1-800-257-7756 outside the Lower Mainland. Email inquiries can be sent to applicantinquiries@bchousing.org