Shelter Aid for elderly renters: A program evaluation from a community perspective

This study examines BC Housing's Shelter Aid for Elderly Renters (SAFER) program from a community perspective. SAFER is a subsidy to elderly low-income renters. The purpose of the paper is to examine inequities in the distribution of SAFER benefits. The study aggregates individual-level SAFER and census data into community-level data and performs a linear regression analysis using two dependent variables. The most important finding to emerge from the analysis of the community data is that SAFER is an effective and well targeted program that provides benefits to the most needy; there is no evidence of income or rent-based inequality. However, communities that experience high mobility from outside the community have lower SAFER take-up rates. Finally, communities with low rental unit availability have high SAFER take-up rates. The study suggests that BC Housing simplify the SAFER application form, develop an on-line application process, and examine a long-term plan to address BC's rental housing shortage problem.