Currently, residents of most housing co-ops aren't eligible for BC's Rental Assistance Program. This means that vulnerable community members can't access rental assistance if they live in housing co-ops, even when those co-ops are section 173 non-profit co-ops (whose members, while technically shareholders, can't profit off the co-op). This is also a problem for low-income seniors, who aren't eligible for Shelter Aid For Elderly Renters if they live in a co-op.

Take, for example, the Galiano Cottage Co-op. This exciting new initiative on Galiano Island is building new secure rental housing and stands to have real impact on Galiano's housing crisis. However, tenants aren't able to apply for RAP. Some of the prospective tenants are low-income seniors or single parents with elementary aged children - they are vulnerable members of this community. They need rental assistance to achieve housing security.

Our province's housing crisis requires bold solutions and rethinking old ways of doing things. We the undersigned urge you to revise this restriction in light of our province's housing crisis, and remove this barrier for vulnerable community members attempting to access secure non-profit rental housing.

Please keep sharing this important petition, thank you!