By Veronica Beltran

aid for renters

Government announces financial aid for renters amidst COVID-19 pandemic

Mar 25, 2020 | 1:39 PM

BRITISH COLUMBIA—The BC Government announced aid for renters amidst the COVID-19 pandemic which has displaced workers provincially and nationally as well.

BC Premier John Horgan announced that renters are available to receive up to $500 a month for the next four months through BC Housing—the money will be transferred to landlords directly

“This fund is there to help those people that are in genuine distress.” —John Horgan

Along with the financial aid Horgan announced that current and future evictions are being suspended “until this crisis has passed,” with some exceptions, those exceptions being extreme cases where there are safety concerns. As well as a small number of court ordered evictions, which operate separately from the BC Government “courts will speak for themselves,”said Robinson.

A rent freeze was also part of the announcement.

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“At a time when we are asking people to stay home to prevent this spread of this virus we have to make sure that people can keep their homes.” —Selina Robinson, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing

New powers were announced for landlords in an attempt at continuing to distance social interactions during the COVID-19 pandemic; they include the ability to restrict access to common areas “for example restricting how many people can be in a shared laundry room at once,”said Robinson.

Landlords are also being restricted from entering tenants homes unless there is a clear threat to people or to property.