If someone in a market unit becomes permanently unemployed, can they become an RGI tenant right away, or do we have to wait until a current RGI tenant moves out?

If you have a shallow need resident who no longer needs a subsidy, you can switch the subsidy designation, so the non-RGI resident becomes RGI, and vice versa.
It’s not unusual for a deep or shallow core need resident to become non-RGI, through a change in family composition or employment.
When you’re confident the change in household income is permanent, you can transfer the deep or shallow core designation to another resident who needs the subsidy.

The next option is to wait until an RGI resident leaves, and then switch the subsidy designation between units.

The last option is to apply to BC Housing for approval to change the income mix to give you an additional subsidy.

To change a non-RGI unit to RGI, or an RGI unit to non-RGI, you need to complete a HOMES BC Change in Unit Designation form. We use this form to track the subsidy and repayable assistance for the development