YWCA Housing
YWCA housing communities provide safe and affordable homes for single women and their dependent children. Residents have access to other YWCA programs and services, and a foundation to move towards health, well-being and economic stability.
They are located across Metro Vancouver.
If you are looking for our Crabtree Corner housing or second-stage transition housing for women leaving violence, please visit our Short-term and Transitional Housing page.
We offer two types of housing, rent geared to income and predetermined rent.
Qualification criteria for rent geared to income and predetermined rent (except for YWCA xʷƛ̓əpicən) includes, but is not limited to:
- You are a single mother who can live independently.
- You are a single mother with dependent* children.
- You have one or more children in your care at least 40% of the time.
- You have reliable and positive previous housing references.
- Your admission to our housing community will not endanger the welfare and safety of other residents.
*Dependent is defined as a child under 19 years of age, or a child of any age who, because of mental or physical infirmity, is accepted as a dependent for income tax purposes; or a child under 25 years of age and in full-time attendance at a college, university, or vocational institution which provides a recognized diploma, certificate or degree. “Full-time attendance” is defined as enrolment in the minimum number of credit courses specified by the institution to constitute full-time, enrolment in a minimum 15 hours of classroom instruction per week, or enrolment in 9 credits in each school term.
YWCA Moiz and Nadia Place only additional eligibility:
- You are a single woman without children who can live independently
- Priority given to women 55+ and women who have experienced, or are fleeing, abuse from an intimate partner
Rent Geared to Income
Rent Geared to Income refers to subsidized long-term housing. Tenant Rent Contribution (rent) is calculated on a rent geared to income basis (30% of household total gross income, subject to minimum rent, or income assistance shelter portion). There is no minimum income limit, but there are maximum income limits set for the housing units.
Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for all rent geared to income YWCA Housing, your total annual family income must not exceed the established Housing Income Limits.
The 2023 Limits are:
| Number of bedrooms | Maximum income per year |
|---|---|
|
a) Two |
$ 72,000 |
| b) Three | $ 86,000 |
| c) Four | $ 107,500 |
Predetermined Rent
Predetermined Rent refers to long-term housing with rent set at an amount below the average market rent for the community. Applicants and tenants have to fall between the minimum and maximum income limits set for the housing units. The minimum and maximum limits vary by community.
Please refer to the housing community pages listed below for their requirements:
| Number of bedrooms | Minimum income per year | Maximum income (HILs) |
|---|---|---|
| a) Two | $ 45,719 | $ 72,000 |
| b) Three | $ 50,119 | $ 86,600 |
| Number of bedrooms | Minimum income per year | Maximum income (HILs) |
|---|---|---|
| a) Two | $ 32,719 | $ 72,000 |
| b) Three | $ 36,319 | $ 86,600 |
| Number of bedrooms | Minimum income per year | Maximum income (HILs) |
|---|---|---|
| a) Two | $ 41,359 | $ 72,000 |
| b) Three | $ 52,039 | $ 86,600 |
| Number of bedrooms | Minimum income per year | Maximum income (HILs) |
|---|---|---|
| a) Two | $ 41,599 | $ 72,000 |
| b) Three | $ 49,879 | $ 86,600 |
| Number of bedrooms | Minimum income per year | Maximum income (HILs) |
|---|---|---|
| a) Bachelor | No minimum | $ 41,979 |
| b) One | No minimum | $ 46,341 |
| c) Two | $ 51,399 | $ 56,699 |
| d) Three | $ 60,839 | $ 70,329 |
Before you apply, gather the information that you will need:
-
Full name and date of birth of any child who will live with you at least 40% of the time.
-
Names, addresses and contact information of landlords for all of the places that you have lived over the past five years.
-
Your financial information about your assets (how much you have in your bank accounts, RRSPs, investments, real estate, etc.).
Fill out the online application for rent geared to income, or predetermined rent.
For More Information
Yasmin B., Applications Administrator
housingapplications@ywcavan.org
Office Hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays
Is YWCA Housing a good fit for you and your family?
Does the location work for you? We encourage you to explore the neighbourhood and ensure that it is suitable for school, work, child care, grocery stores, transit, etc.
Consider if you want to participate in community (in Rent Geared to Income Units). Tenants are not required to participate in housing community activities, however there are opportunities to do so.
Rent geared to income housing has a Community Development Coordinator onsite to: offer information and referrals on resources and YWCA events and services; facilitate tenant meetings; coordinate tenant events; distribute donations (Presents of PEACE hampers in December, and any new food and clothing donations received by the YWCA).
Consider whether you will be able to comply with YWCA housing policies, which include only 14 days per year for overnight guest stays, requiring tenant insurance, pet-friendly and smoke-free housing communities, etc.
Our Stopping the Violence brochure lists transition houses, crisis lines, and other support organizations for women leaving abuse.
