Thank you BC Housing SAFER (Shelter Aid For Elderly Renters) for reducing the gross income of 16,000+ BC Housing SAFER recipients by about the same rate as the food inflation rate, or about 8.5%

Thanks a bunch! [$2300 (pre the SAFER "Household income" adjustment) x 0.08478260869 = $195)]

Thanks again BC Housing SAFER!

Seniors in other areas of Canada, ( Low-income seniors in Ontario to get small boost this year and group says it's 'long overdue' ) very graciously received a generous cost-of-living bump to their income due to recent inflation. BC Housing SAFER very generously reduces the gross income of 16,700 BC Housing SAFER recipients to account for those recipients' increases in food, shelter, and general living expenses in British Columbia.

One more time… "On June 1, 2023, B.C.'s lowest-paid workers will get a pay raise with the general minimum wage in- creasing from $15.65 to $16.75 an hour. … The 6.9% increase in minimum wage rates reflects B.C.’s average annual inflation rate in 2022." Courtesy of: Mel Kositsky, Today's Senior's News Magazine

It appears that some parties that are undervalued, underpaid, and often over looked, are now able to access a "nearer to a living income". A much needed 6.9% cost-of-living adjustment… gracious.

Meanwhile, back at SAFER, a 16,000+ group of marginalized BC citizens, BC seniors, receive an 8.5% reduction in their gross income based on their debatably, artificially inflated 2022 income, and not an increase of a 6.9% cost-of-living adjustment. Oi!

Now I feel even more special that I have learned, once again, I am far too well-off, just too rich in income with my wealth of properties, to qualify for that loss of that 2023 BC Housing SAFER poor person, seniors' subsidy of 8.5%/month, let alone receive a 2023 cost-of-living increase.

NO!

STOP!

NOT A COST-OF-LIVING INCREASE!

WHAT WILL THEY THINK OF NEXT?!?!?!

No, not a 6.9% cost-of-living increase… an 8.5% cost-of-living decrease!

Thank you once again, BC Housing SAFER, for generously granting 16,000+ marginalized BC citizens, BC seniors, an 8.5% cost-of-living decrease!

Damn, I forgot!

That puts 16,000+ marginalized BC citizens, BC seniors, at a total 2023 negative income of 15.4%! (not a 2022 6.9% cost-of-living increase + the 2023 8.5% cost-of-living decrease)

Side note: British Columbia is NOT one of the most expensive areas of North America to live in.

Explanation time:

Very recently, I and probably a great portion of the 16,700 BC Housing SAFER recipients received a debatable, highly unexpected, "Household income" adjustment at the end of February 2023. Debatable because BC Housing SAFER did not adjust and or update all the BC Housing SAFER assessment criteria.

The outdated, antiquated 2018 "Adjusted rent" was not updated.

Because the outdated, antiquated 2018 "Adjusted rent" was NOT adjusted to 2023, as the "Household income" was adjusted to 2023, my SAFER was reduced by 46%/month or $195/month. This 46% SAFER subsidy decrease was probably the norm for most or all of the 16,700 SAFER recipients. In the end, the BC Housing SAFER assessment criteria is only a simple algorithm, a non-judgemental simple algorithm, an easily rewritten algorithm to satisfy any party that BC Housing SAFER chooses which would logically include BC Housing SAFER itself.

Great!

Fantastic!

Kudos for saving a buck, BC Housing SAFER! [just and only $3,256,500.00/month (16,700 x $195/month)]

Kudos for saving a buck, BC Housing SAFER, on the backs of a marginalized group of BC residents... seniors!

Wow!

Do you feel special now?

Is anyone able to note my sarcasm?

For example, my 2022 and 2023 SAFER assessments:

2022:

• Address: Surrey, Zone I
• Rent: $1,370.25
• Heat included: Yes
• Household Size: 1
• Household Income: $1,098.78

Benefit Calculation:

• $803 Adjusted rent
• - $329 Minus 30% of Household Income
• = $473.37 Equals Rent Gap
• x 90% Multiply by the Assistance Level
• = $426.03 Equals Monthly Benefit (minimum of $25.00 up to a maximum of $558.00)

2023:

• Address: Surrey, Zone I
• Rent: $t,397.65
• Heat included: Yes
• Household Size: 1
• Household Income: $1,817.74 ... WTH?

Benefit Calculation:

• $803 Adjusted rent
• - $545.32 Minus 30% of Household Income
• = $257.68 Equals Rent Gap
• x 90% Multiply by the Assistance Level
• = $231.91 Equals Monthly Benefit (minimum of $25.00 up to a maximum of $558.00)

This debatable, highly unexpected, BC Housing SAFER "Household income" adjustment amounted to a "Household income" increase of about 80% from 2020 to 2021 for myself and I am sure a similar amount for many others of the 16,700 BC Housing SAFER recipients. It is CRA legally documented that my 2020 to 2021 income did not increase by 80%, and I am also sure that a great portion of the other 16,000+ SAFER recipients have had a very similar SAFER situation occur.

Again, BC Housing SAFER adjusted its assessment algorithm for "Household income" to 2023 but DID NOT adjust the outdated and obsolete 2018 "Adjusted rent" to 2023.

Question 1: Why adjust the "Household income" to a more current and equitable 2023 and NOT adjust the outdated and obsolete 2018 "Adjusted rent" to a more current and equitable 2023? (equitable was a term I gained from my phone inquiry with SAFER)

Question 2: Were the previous years of BC housing SAFER assessments inaccurate?

Question 3: Which line(s) of the 2021 CRA were used for this current, debatable 2023 "Household income" adjustment? (another question not answered)

Question 4: Why adjust anything at all to be more current and equitable for 2023 for a saving of only a mere and just only $3,256,500.00/month (16,700 x $195/month)?

Question 5: Does the recent shake-up/screw-up of the BC Housing Board of Directors, and or the Atira debacle, have any bearing on this egregious affront to yet another marginalized group of BC's residents... seniors?

Province fires board of B.C. Housing following critical report​

More than half of BC Housing’s board is being replaced​

Eby's rush to oust B.C. Housing directors appears political, not financial​

Peering inside the Atira-B.C. Housing scandal with staff, tenants and critics

Question 6: Is it true that the negative SAFER income of $195/month is not much for most people in 2023?

For most, yes, but a negative income of $195/month for a person that is living month to month on a limited/fixed income is substantial. A negative income of $195/month for a BC senior who is generally not able to adjust their income by extra employment or panhandling income is substantial. It equals meds or no meds. It equals food or no food. It equals having to choose between meds, food, utilities, and or... because you are not able to afford them all in 2023.

Question 7: Is it a coincidence that the recent 2023 gain of about $194/month from CPP, OAS, and GIS approximately equals the negative $195/month BC Housing SAFER "Household income" adjustment?

Demand that BC Housing SAFER Update Their Outdated And Antiquated 2018 "Adjusted Rent" To 2023 Retroactive To The Respective First Month Of The "Household Income" Update!

 

Seniors' News Canada:

Low-income seniors in Ontario to get small boost this year and group says it's 'long overdue'​

B.C. ranked worst among provinces for supporting seniors: Advocate​

BC Seniors: Income and Affordability Gaps​

BC Seniors" Falling Further Behind​

B.C. seniors receiving less support than in other provinces​

October 2022 - CMHC average rent Surrey, BC - $1365​

As of April 2023, the average rent for a 1-bedroom apartment in Surrey, BC is $1,900. This is a 27% increase compared to the previous year.

 

Note:

In BC Housing SAFER Zone 1, Surrey, BC, Vancouver, BC, and such, the "Adjusted rent" is $803/month, which according to BC Housing SAFER, was last updated in 2018.

I live in Surrey, BC/Zone 1 where the retail market states that a 1-bedroom apartment is $1900/month, and CMHC Canada states that in October 2022 a 1-bedroom apartment was an average of $1365/month.