Mayor Victor Cumming (Vernon Matters file photo / Liam Verster)

By Liam Verster

Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters

Vernon’s mayor pleased with supports to elderly renters

Apr 17, 2024 | 5:00 AM

A Vernon-led call for better supports for seniors renting their homes has been implemented by the province, to which the local Mayor is very pleased.

Vernon City Council first proposed improvements to the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renter (SAFER) program in 2023, which the province followed through with earlier this month.

READ MORE: A Vernon-led call for better seniors supports backed by province

Speaking to Vernon Matters, Mayor Victor Cumming said the program was in need of enhancements.

“[SAFER] hadn’t had an increase since 2018 and we all know rents have gone up substantially since then, and it didn’t reflect people who’ve had their income rise slightly,” Cumming explained.

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“So it just needed to incorporate people with slightly higher incomes, because their pensions, et cetera, would be attached to inflation rates, and people’s rents had increased substantially since 2018. So we wanted to see the Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters increase, and the ceiling increase.”

Both those recommendations were met by the province, with Cumming saying City Council suggested the rent ceiling be increased by between 10 and 20 per cent, which was achieved with the average rising from $30,000 to $37,240, and that the amounts SAFER program recipients received were going up up by an average of $100 a month, which should help seniors.

“I think [the recommendations being adopted] represents that Vernon councillors, in this case it was Councillor Kelly Fehr [who put the idea forward], they’ve got their ear to the ground, and they know the situation both here and in other communities of the province” Cumming told Vernon Matters.

“So when we brought this forward [at UBCM] it was supported, people understood why we were asking for this, I’m talking about our colleagues across the province, and obviously so did the Ministry of Finance, which had to make this decision.”

The province also issued a one-time rental benefit of $430 to SAFER program and Rental Assistance Program recipients, which Cumming said helped seniors who were “feeling the stress of trying to meet their rent,” The program’s minimum payment was also increased and a measure was put in place to allow rent ceilings be reviewed and amended annually, which were not recommendations from Vernon but well received by the Mayor.

“I think it made a difference to seniors who are renting,” Cumming stated.

He noted that, though Vernon has a large population of seniors, many are “well off,” though those who are renting and struggling will benefit from the improvements to the SAFER program.

Cumming added the changes are suitable for the time being, but stated the province should watch what happens n the future and make further changes to ensure people are supported.