Airdrie residents will now be eligible for funding support through the Temporary Rental Assistance Benefit (TRAB).

The program is a two-year benefit program for working households or for those in between jobs. It is designed for households who may have trouble receiving priority for regular Rental Assistance Benefit (RAB) or community housing but still need help making their housing affordable.

According to the city of Airdrie, the province announced that it was expanding the program, with Airdrie being included in that expansion. 

“We are pleased that Airdrie has been included in the recent expansion of the TRAB and thankful to the Provincial Government for recognizing the need in our City,” said Mayor Peter Brown. “City Council and Administration have been advocating for this change since the Benefit was introduced in March 2021. Hopefully, these positive results of our combined efforts will make a significant difference for our residents who need rental support.”

The city underlined that Airdrie City Council and Administration have pushed for the TRAB to be extended to municipalities outside of the seven major centres the Benefit was originally intended for.

"Advocacy efforts have included numerous meetings with the Ministry of Seniors and Housing and in July, a visit from Minister of Seniors and Housing, Josephine Pon to tour local affordable housing units and hotel conversion projects."

Mayor Brown added that the changes to the TRAB are an important first step.

"The critical need for affordable housing is real in Airdrie. Our Council and Administration will continue to advocate to address the significant gap and encourage more affordable units to be built,” he said. “Our work to secure more Provincial and Federal funding does not stop with this announcement. We’re committed to finding solutions that work for our City and support those residents in need.”

Locally, the TRAB is being administered by Calgary Housing Company (CHC) on behalf of the Government of Alberta.

According to the province, eligible applicants are prioritized on a first-come, first-served basis and they must have an income below local income limits as determined by the market for that community, as well as be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. In the municipality of Calgary, the income threshold for a bachelor's apartment is 37,500.

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