Tenants and landlords who are affected by income losses during the COVID-19 pandemic can continue to receive support from the Government of Yukon’s 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 in July, August and September 2020. Eligible households can receive 50 per cent of median market rent based on unit size:
- $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 June, the Government of Yukon passed a ministerial order that protects tenants from eviction for non-payment of rent if they are under a health protection measure and allowed tenants who deferred rent payments due to income lost due to COVID-19 will have until December 31, 2020 to repay the outstanding amount to their landlord.
For new clients who are interested in the program, the COVID-19 Rent Assist program applications for July to September will be available in late July at https://service.yukon.ca/forms/en/rent-assistance-covid19.
Existing clients of the COVID-19 Rent Assist program for April, May or June should contact the Yukon Housing Corporation at rentassist@gov.yk.ca or by phone at 867-667-5759 or toll-free at 1-800-661-0408 extension 5759 to find out how to renew their application.
It is important that we continue to support Yukoners who are impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. This will help tenants who have experienced a loss of income due to the COVID-19 situation and landlords who may not be receiving their rental income. The Government of Yukon will continue to support Yukoners during these uncertain times as we work to keep our territory safe and healthy.
Minister Responsible for the Yukon Housing Corporation Pauline Frost
The COVID-19 Rent Assist program was originally announced in May 2020 to help landlords and tenants who had lost income due to the COVID-19 situation pay rent during April, May and June. Yukoners can apply for support for these three months until July 15, 2020.
During these three months, the Yukon Housing Corporation approved 140 Yukon households for support.
This program has a budget of $1.29 million to help Yukoners afford rent after they have lost income due to COVID-19.
For information, please contact Yukon Housing Corporation at rentassist@gov.yk.ca, or by calling 867-667-5759 in Whitehorse, or toll-free at 1-800-661-0408, extension 5759.
Matthew Cameron
Cabinet Communications
867-393-7136
matthew.cameron@gov.yk.ca
Sarah Murray
Communications, Yukon Housing Corporation
867-334-9230
sarah.murray@gov.yk.ca