SAJE (Strengthening Abilities and Journeys of Empowerment)

• Proof of rent, such as a tenancy or lease agreement, notice of rent increase, rent receipts, confirmation of electronic funds transfer from the applicant to the landlord, SDPR Shelter Information form, or Intent to Rent Form.
• Completed Direct Deposit Application.

Who is eligible?

• Youth aged 14 to 19 supported by MCFD or an ICFSA in any legal status.
• Young adults aged 19 to 25 with one of the stated care-experience histories.
• Young adults aged 19 to 26, up to their 27th birthday, who live in private market rental housing in B.C.
• Young adults aged 19 to 26, up to their 27th birthday, who participate in SAJE and are on UIS, CIS, SHA, or SSA.
• Young adults on an eligible SAJE agreement who are pursuing life-skills-related goals.

Who is not eligible

• Young adults on a SAJE Housing Agreement cannot receive a Rent Supplement.
• Young adults cannot receive a Rent Supplement if they are receiving a rent supplement from another government source at the same time.

Eligible expenses

• Dental services, covered up to $1,000 per calendar year.
• Optical services, including eye exams, glasses, and contact lenses, covered up to $600 every two years.
• Mental health and counselling-related supports, including psychologists, clinical counsellors, traditional healing practices, Elders, sweat lodges, art therapy, and music therapy, covered up to $1,500 per calendar year.
• Eligible prescription costs under PharmaCare Plan C, including the dispensing fee.
• MSP-covered medically required services and therapies, including physician and specialist services, ambulance transport, maternity care, diagnostic services, dental and oral surgery in hospital, and up to 10 therapy visits per year.

Ineligible Costs and Activities

• MSP does not provide coverage for services not deemed medically required.
• MSP does not provide coverage for services of counsellors or psychologists.

• Applications are sorted based on Indigeneity and self-reported income.
• After those criteria are applied, applications are assessed on a first-come-first-served basis.
• 50% of the Rent Supplements are first available to Indigenous young adults.

• Apply for a Rent Supplement on the SAJE Housing webpage.
• Intake links are posted twice yearly, typically each February and September, and applications are accepted over a two-week period.
• Supporting documents can be uploaded online with the application form or emailed after the fact.

• If you are approved to receive a Rent Supplement, you will be asked to submit a completed Direct Deposit Application.
• If you want payments to go directly to your landlord, you may include a Direct Deposit Application completed by the landlord.
• Direct Deposit Applications must be mailed in hard copy.
• If you move while receiving a Rent Supplement and stay in private market rental housing in B.C., you can continue to receive it, but you must notify MCFD of your updated address within 30 days.