Temporary Rental Assistance Benefit
Eligibility
Households must meet eligibility requirements under the Social Housing Accommodation Regulation, s. 9(2), which specifies an eligible household:
- is in core housing need.
- has a total asset value of $25,000 or less.
- is comprised of Canadian citizens, individuals lawfully admitted into Canada for permanent residence, refugees sponsored by the Government of Canada or individuals who have applied for refugee or immigration status and for whom private sponsorship has broken down, and meets the residency requirements if any, prescribed by the management body.
Households must be currently employed or have been in receipt of employment income at some point during the last 24 months from the time of application.
Households in receipt of Employment Insurance, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit, and the Canada Recovery Benefit are TRAB eligible.
Proof of employment income should be obtained from applicant households by the HMB, such as through requesting an employment stub, record of employment, or Notice of Assessment – Line 15000.
Households in receipt of social assistance including Income Support, Learner Income Support, Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped, Alberta Seniors Benefit, Guaranteed Income Supplement or Old Age Security are NOT eligible for TRAB.
A household must not be in receipt of RAB or living in social housing accommodation managed by an HMB.
The benefit is portable with the household if the residence change is within the same municipal boundaries. A household may have their TRAB discontinued if it moves outside the municipal boundaries (i.e., a neighboring community) within the duration of the TRAB agreement. The HMB may require the household to notify the HMB of change of residence.
Prioritization
TRAB is intended to be disbursed to households on a first-come-first-served basis until funding limits are reached. The prioritization point scoring in the Social Housing Accommodation Regulation does not apply to TRAB household selection and allocation.
Duration
TRAB benefits are temporary for two years. In the first year, households receive the full benefit amount.
Once the household has been in the program for a year, their continued income eligibility will be reassessed, not including the TRAB benefit, to ensure it remains below the income thresholds (HILs) and the location of residence remains within the municipal boundary. Should they continue to meet income eligibility requirements, they will receive the supplement for an additional year, at a reduced rate equal to the greater of 80% of the benefit received in year one or $100 (see TRAB table). If a household has managed to exceed the eligibility asset limit during the first year, they may continue under TRAB for the second year.
- If a household begins to receive housing supports through another social housing program while in receipt of TRAB, they are to cease receiving TRAB.
Once the two-year term is complete, if a household remains in need of a TRAB supplement they may reapply to the program and be placed on a waitlist, if eligible.
Reapplying households should be informed that reenrollment into the program is not automatic and prioritization is based on first come, first served.
