Low income resources for Burnaby BC?

[kittynurse]

Hi mamas!

I hope you can help me help a friend. Someone I know is in the unfortunate position of not qualifying for assistance but not having enough income to survive really.

She's having a hard time finding resources so I thought I would post here to ask you wise mamas. We've already figured out the food bank and she will be going there on the next day it's open.

Anything else that isn't limited to folks on welfare or other forms of assistance?

She is a single woman in her twenties (if that makes a difference).

Thanks so much!

Martha

[Kyamo]

She should file her taxes even if she won't owe anything, there is a check box on there to apply for the GST rebate. If she has kids, she should apply for the CCTB and the UCCB, you don't get those unless you apply.

[kittynurse]

Hi Kyamo

Thanks for the reply. I believe she already files taxes, I will find out. She does get the GST rebate (so that must mean she files taxes right?)

No kids so unfortunately no child benefits.

Anyone else have any ideas?

Martha

[orangatan]

My first thought was to apply for the rent assistance program through BC housing but I just looked at it and you need at least one dependant to qualify. Might be an idea to call them and ask them for suggestions if there is a program that could help her if housing is too expensive.
Many of the resources I can think of are available to single parents, persons with disabilities, older adults, women in domestic violence, ect. You could always have a look through the red book (google red book online Vancouver) and see if there is anything there that she would qualify for. The red book is a directory of services available to people in the lower mainland. Hope this helps.

[kdtmom2be]

Most of these resources are directed at single moms but there are a few that apply to everyone. bchousing.org is probably the first place she should start looking for affordable housing.