The Government of Alberta has redesigned its Rent Supplement Program to meet the needs of more Albertans, including working families and those most in need. The program includes:
Temporary Rent Assistance Benefit
(TRAB)
A short-term benefit that provides a modest subsidy for working households with low income or those between jobs. Support is intended to help eligible tenants afford their rent while they stabilize or improve their situation.
Rent Assistance Benefit
(RAB)
A subsidy paid directly to recipient households who live in rental housing to help make their rent more affordable. RAB is designed for households in core housing need who have low-income and ongoing need. Applications are processed and prioritized according to Alberta’s Social Housing Regulation.
If you need a printed copy, please contact RAB@meridianfoundation.ca or call (780) 963-2149.
Completed applications and required documents can be submitted to the office in person or via email, mail, or fax. Please see the application cover page for details.
TRAB Program Highlights
- The amount of subsidy is based on household size and location and will be reduced in the 2nd year. The program has a minimum subsidy of $100 per month.
- Households are prioritized on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Recipients must provide regular reporting to keep file current.
- Two-year limit with eligibility reassessed after the first year. Households can reapply for Rent Assistance after the second year.
Do I qualify?
Households must meet the following criteria for the TRAB program eligibility:
- Be in core housing need
- Household Income Limit below income thresholds set by the Government of Alberta
For Stony Plain, Spruce Grove and Parkland County the local income thresholds are:
- Studio $39,000
- 1 Bedroom $46,500
- 2 Bedroom $58,000
- 3 Bedroom $70,000
- 4 Bedroom $75,500
- Total income is considered to be the total gross income, including self-employment income, from all sources, of all members of the household 22 years of age and older.
- Has a total asset value of $25,000 or less;
- Canadian citizens, permanent residents, 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
- Have a current lease within the boundaries of one of the following communities: Stony Plain, Spruce Grove, Parkland County.
- Live in eligible housing, a self-contained, rented home. This means the home has its own kitchen and bathroom and is not shared with the landlord. It does include:
- A basement or secondary suite that has been approved by the municipality.
- Detached housing, row/townhouse, duplex or triplex, or apartments or condos with a lease agreement in place.
- Mobile home where the tenant is renting the whole unit (pad rent only is not eligible).
-
- Co-operatives with a written co-operative agreement.
Additional Eligibility Criteria
- Employed or have been employed in the last 24 months
- Not receiving social assistance, including;
- Income Support
- Learner Income Support
- Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped
- Alberta Seniors Benefit
- Guaranteed Income Supplement
- Old Age Security
RAB Program Highlights
- The amount of subsidy is calculated based on household size, composition, income, and local market rent.
The program has a minimum subsidy of $50 per month and a maximum of $700 per month. - Households are prioritized based on need as determined by the Alberta Social Housing Accommodation Regulation.
- Recipients must provide regular reporting and eligibility is reassessed annually.
Do I qualify?
Households must meet the following criteria for the rent assistance benefit program eligibility:
- Be in core housing need
- Household Income Limit below local income thresholds set by the Government of Alberta
For Stony Plain, Spruce Grove and Parkland County the local income thresholds are:
-
-
- Studio $39,000
- 1 Bedroom $46,500
- 2 Bedroom $58,000
- 3 Bedroom $70,000
- 4 Bedroom $75,500
- Total income is considered to be the total gross income, including self-employment income, from all sources, of all members of the household 22 years of age and older.
-
- Has a total asset value of $25,000 or less;
- Canadian citizens, permanent residents, 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
- Have a current lease within the boundaries of one of the following communities: Stony Plain, Spruce Grove, Parkland County.
- Live in eligible housing, a self-contained, rented home. This means the home has its own kitchen and bathroom and is not shared with the landlord. It does include:
- A basement or secondary suite that has been approved by the municipality.
- Detached housing, row/townhouse, duplex or triplex, or apartments or condos with a lease agreement in place.
- Mobile home where the tenant is renting the whole unit (pad rent only is not eligible).
- Co-operatives with a written co-operative agreement.
What is Core Housing Need?
- A household is in core housing need if they meet one or more of the following:
- Pay more than 30% of before-tax income on rent,
- Their housing is in need of major repairs (Ex: defective plumbing or electrical, structural repair needed to floors, walls or ceilings)
- Their housing does not have enough bedrooms for the size and make-up of the residents. Children over the age of 5 may not share a bedroom with someone of a different gender identity.
Does my vehicle count as an asset?
- The total value of assets must be less than $25,000. However, the primary vehicle for a household does not count; assets such as RRSPs, RESPs, RRIFs, and TFSAs also do not count. Clothing and tools for work purposes are also exempt.
- Examples of assets that are not exempt are money in regular bank accounts and property owned such as a house or recreational vehicle.
Who makes up my household?
- A household is defined in the Social Housing Accommodation Regulation under section 1(1)(i) as an individual who is applying for or occupying social housing accommodation, including the following, if any:
- The spouse or adult interdependent partners of this applicant or occupant,
- An individual related by blood, adoption, or marriage, or by virtue of an adult interdependent or who is known to have lived regularly as a member of the household as part of the family unit,
- The dependents who are living with the applicants or occupant, including any dependents of whom the applicant or occupant has joint or sole custody,
- A member of the household who is usually a member of the household but is temporarily absent any reason of:
- Military service
- Hospitalization
- Employment
- School attendance, or
- Other special circumstances
- A live-in aide
