B.C. seniors at risk of ‘catastrophic’ evictions, advocate says

Data compiled and released by Metro Vancouver this month show the BC Housing wait-list for social housing has 18,865 households on it, with seniors and families in most need.

British Columbia seniors who face eviction from long-term, affordable rental housing face “catastrophic” consequences and a growing number of older residents are at risk of becoming homeless, says the province’s seniors advocate.

Everyone deserves to be adequately housed, Isobel Mackenzie said in an interview with The Canadian Press, but she noted the growing need for homes earmarked for seniors has become particularly dire for those with low, fixed incomes during what should be their golden years.

Data compiled and released by Metro Vancouver this month show the BC Housing wait-list for social housing has 18,865 households on it, with seniors and families in the greatest need.

That’s a 27 per cent jump from 2022, and although the BC Housing wait-list doesn’t provide the full picture across the province for social housing needs, the increase doesn’t surprise Mackenzie.

She said as more people retire and start collecting old age security, Canada Pension Plan payments and other benefits, many seniors see their incomes drop dramatically from their working years, sometimes to the point where they can no longer afford to pay rent.

Seniors who rent, she said, typically make up to 50 per cent less than other renters, and subsidy rates for shelter have not kept up with rising rental costs in B.C.

“Renters in the private market are retiring,” she said. “They can no longer afford their rents even with the rent supplement, and they need to move to rent-geared-to-income senior subsidized housing. That’s what we’re seeing in these wait list increases.”

Mackenzie said there’s been an “uptick” in the number of people over 60 in homeless shelters, and even single-room occupancy buildings are now financially out of reach for many.