Affordable Workforce Rental Housing Glossary
Applicant: A person who is applying for a program, service or benefit.
Assets: A financial investment that you can convert into cash if you have to.
Below-market rental housing: Below-market rental housing is housing with rents equal to, or lower than, average rates in private-market rental housing.
BC Housing Occupancy Standards: The guideline used to determine what size housing unit a single person, couple or family qualifies for is:
- No more than two (2) and no less than one (1) person per bedroom.
- Spouses and couples share a bedroom.
Canada Revenue Agency (CRA): CRA is a branch of the Canadian government that processes income, benefits and programs related to tax.
Couple: Two people in a married, common-law or marriage-like relationship.
Dependent child: An unmarried child, stepchild, adopted child or legal ward, mainly supported by the applicant, who is:
- Under 19 years of age; or
- Under 25 years of age and registered in full-time school, university or vocational institute which provides a recognized diploma, certificate, or degree; or
- Of any age who, because of mental or physical infirmity, is accepted as a dependent for income tax purposes.
Disability: A severe and prolonged impairment in physical or mental functions.
Housing Income Limits: Dollar amounts that represent the maximum annual income, before taxes, that a household can earn for suitable (or affordable) housing in their location.
Lower Columbia Region Business: a business located in the municipalities of Fruitvale, Montrose, Rossland, Trail or Warfield or Electoral Areas A and B of the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary which:
- Has a valid business licence, or be legislatively exempt (e.g. schools); and
- Has an office or premises that are physically located in; and
- The business must be a permitted use under the bylaws of their local community as stated above.
Member of the Workforce: An individual who is employed or self-employed for a minimum annualized average of at least 30 hours per week based on a 50 week work year, by one or multiple Qualified Rossland employer(s) Note that employment includes being on maternity leave or sick/disability leave.
Non-profit housing: A housing development that a community-based, non-profit housing partner owns and operates.
Recent Retiree: An individual who has retired from a Qualified Rossland Business where they worked an annual average of at least 30 hours per week in 3 of the past 5 years
Residency requirements: You and your family must permanently live in Canada with proof of citizenship, permanent residency or government-sponsored refugee status.
Senior: An adult aged 55 years or older. BC Housing programs, partners and housing providers may define a senior by a different age.
Spouse: A husband or wife through marriage, a common-law partner or the person with whom the applicant is living with in a marriage-like relationship.
Qualified Rossland Business or self-employment:
- Has a valid Rossland business licence, or be legislatively exempt (e.g. schools); and
- Has an office or premises that are physically located in Rossland; and
- The business must be a permitted use under City of Rossland bylaws; and
- The business must have their operations directly related to the provision of goods and services within the City of Rossland.