Housing Benefit for Survivors of Gender-Based Violence

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Overview

The Survivors of Gender-Based Violence Housing Benefit is a direct-to-household benefit that will provide financial assistance to support qualifying individuals who are escaping abusive situations by helping to cover their monthly housing expenses, such as rent, mortgage payments, or property tax. The benefit can also secure new housing opportunities by providing funding to cover damage deposits.

The program is cost-shared through the Governments of Canada and Prince Edward Island as part of the National Housing Strategy.

What is gender-based violence?

The National Action Plan on Gender-based Violence defines gender-based violence as based on gender norms and unequal power dynamics against someone based on sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression, or perceived gender including women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+. Violence takes many forms including physical, sexual, financial, as well as emotional (psychological) abuse. 

Benefits

• Provides financial assistance directly to applicants.
• Use and transfer anywhere within the province or to any unit.
• Provides, on average, up to $7,200 annually ($600 per month).
• Can provide a one-time non-repayable damage deposit of up to $2,000. 

Eligibility

Eligiblity will be assessed by housing officials using the following criteria:

• You have or are planning to leave your home due to a situation that has put you at risk.
• Annual household income (see income threshold table).
• Ration of housing cost to income i.e. spending 30% or more (for renters) or 50% or more (for homeowners) of household income for suitable housing
• Other factors include the number of dependents living with you, health status of family members and the availability of a unit suitable to your family’s needs.
• You do not currently rent from PEI Housing Corporation or other subsidized housing.