Tenants and landlords who are affected by income losses during the COVID-19 pandemic will receive support from the Government of Yukon's new COVID-19 Rent Assist program.
Tenants living in private non-subsidized market rental housing in Yukon who have lost 30 per cent or more of their income due to COVID-19 are eligible for a grant to help cover rent from April to June 2020. Eligible households can receive 50% of median market rent based on unit size using the Whitehorse median market rent:
- $415 per month for a bachelor, or room in a house;
- $500 per month for a 1 bedroom;
- $600 per month for a 2 bedroom; and
- $800 per month for a 3 bedroom or larger.
The grant will be paid directly to landlords on behalf of tenants. This will ensure that landlords, who may also be experiencing lower income as a result of the pandemic, continue receiving partial income from their rental properties, and tenants who have had to defer paying rent will have less owing.
In March, the Government of Yukon passed new regulations to prevent evictions for 90 days for residential tenants impacted by COVID-19, and allowed tenants to defer rent payments. The COVID-19 Rent Assist program application process will be available online at Yukon.ca shortly. Individuals interested in the program can contact the Yukon Housing Corporation.
To be eligible for the program tenants must have lost 30 per cent of more of their income due to COVID-19. They must be a Yukon resident with a residential lease for a private market rental unit for at least three months.
Eligible households can receive 50% of median market rent based on unit size using the Whitehorse median market rent. They must have applied to other COVID-19 relief funds that they may be eligible for.
The short-term relief program is available retroactive to April 1 and ends on June 30, 2020. Tenants who deferred rent for April and May are also able to apply to help cover their costs.
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