AISH recipients in community housing will see rent hike under new Alberta regulations

Albertans who receive payments under AISH, or Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped, who live in community housing where rent is set at 30 per cent of income will soon see the amount increase by $220 a month. 

Changes to the Social Housing Accommodation Regulation, approved by cabinet via orders-in-council in May and June, will result in an AISH recipient who receives $1,901 a month paying $570 in rent. The current amount is $349 a month. The changes take effect Oct. 1 for new tenants or at an existing tenant's next annual rent review. 

AISH recipients used to have $735 of their monthly amount exempted from the eligible income used to determine rent. An order in council signed on May 15 by Assisted Living and Social Services Minister Jason Nixon removed that exemption. 

Personal benefits remain exempt. This set of benefits covers expenses such as some of the cost of medical equipment and supplies, special dietary needs and maintenance of wheelchairs and scooters. 

The changes are meant to "increase fairness" in how rent is assessed. People on government benefit programs like AISH and income support that live in community social housing pay about 17 per cent of their income on rent. 

Nixon was not made available for an interview with CBC News. His press secretary provided a written statement instead. 

"Under the revised approach, rent for social community housing tenants and housing benefit recipients will be calculated as 30 per cent of total household income, treating household income from employment and assistance programs equally," Amber Edgerton wrote in an email.

"This new approach aligns with the 2020 Affordable Housing Review Panel recommendations and creates a clear, standardized approach to rent setting that is fair to all tenants."

Housing providers were notified about the change via a June 13 letter from an assistant deputy minister in Nixon's department. 

Simplifying rent

Irene Martin-Lindsay, executive director of the Alberta Seniors and Community Housing Association, said housing providers asked for the change to simplify how the rent is calculated. 

The current system creates inequities in rent depending on a tenant's circumstances, she said. Someone who is employed or on senior benefits is charged 30 per cent of their income or more depending on the size of the unit.

Martin-Lindsay said providers will advocate with the government to ensure people on AISH get the support they need.

"We agree with equitable treatment of income in principle, but we don't want to create hardship for anybody because we know that everybody's situation isn't the same," she said. 

"Do they have other medical costs that can't be covered? Do they have other expenses that are over and above? Housing is one piece of what you need to live on."

Groups that advocate for people with disabilities say they hadn't heard about the changes until they were contacted by CBC News.  

Doug Manderville, president of the board of directors for Voice of Albertans with Disabilities, was once on AISH after becoming quadriplegic in his early twenties. 

He is upset the Alberta government will not allow AISH recipients to keep the $200 Canada Disability Benefit, making it an outlier among the provinces. 

Manderville says the rent increases will add more financial strain.

"People with disabilities struggle enough, whether it be physically or mentally," Manderville said. 

"Struggle every single day, just getting up in the morning, just having proper services, proper care, proper housing, food on the table and now they have to worry about this … it's not fair." 

The government is taking additional measures to determine rent and rental subsidies. The Canada Child Benefit and Alberta Child and Family Benefit will be included as income for setting rent for people who receive rent supplements starting Jan. 1, 2027. 

The same benefits will be considered eligible income when determining rent in community housing at the start of 2028, which will result in rent supplements decreasing and rents increasing for this set of renters. 

Civida, a social housing provider in Edmonton, said 16 per cent of their tenants have AISH as their primary source of income. In a written statement, the organization said it plans to implement the changes. 

"We are preparing clear communication and resources to help residents understand and plan for the changes, including direct outreach, budgeting tools and additional supports."