About Us
BC Rent Bank is a backbone organization providing funding to the provincial rent bank network and supporting our rent bank partners with technology, resources, and training.
We believe housing is the foundation of healthy communities and families.
Our mission is to develop an interconnected network of eviction prevention and housing stability services that reduces new instances of homelessness among renters in British Columbia.
Five years of advocating for renters
In 2019, we began as a pilot project with a three-year mandate to support the funding of existing rent banks, establish new rent banks, and create the infrastructure to support a provincial rent bank system. Now in our fifth year, BC Rent Bank is strengthening our network to support more renters, developing strategic partnerships to implement innovative solutions that ensure equitable access, and using the data we collect to advocate for change within the renter market.
Providing vital supports and services for renters
In addition to financial support, we’re connecting low- to moderate-income individuals and families in BC with services such as financial literacy and debt relief; government benefits and housing supports; physical needs such as food and clothing; and referrals that support physical, mental and emotional well-being.
Our comprehensive services and non-judgmental approach help alleviate stress and ensure people have a plan to get back on their feet and maintain their housing.
$6.45M
in financial assistance provided directly to renters
4,970
households supported to avoid eviction or essential utility disconnection
10,770
people kept housed
17,000
additional supports offered to individuals
Helping thousands of renters in BC avoid eviction
Working collaboratively in communities we’re developing partnerships, providing renters with localized support, and facilitating greater access to financial solutions that prevent individuals and families from falling into deeper cycles of debt and poverty.
Our Team
Melissa began her career as a teacher before shifting her focus to the non-profit sector, both domestic and international, in 2003. She earned her MA in Leadership degree from Royal Roads University and was named BC Rent Bank’s managing director at the program’s inception in 2019. Melissa enjoys making connections that result in solutions for people seeking support. In her work with BC Rent Bank, she focuses on what’s important: assisting renters with practical solutions in their time of crisis.
Shauna brings nearly 20 years’ experience supporting projects in women’s health, mental health, addictions, and housing to her role as BC Rent Bank’s program manager. In her front-line interactions, she has seen first-hand the far-reaching and devastating consequences of housing precarity. This insight led her to shift her focus and in 2020, Shauna joined BC Rent Bank where she oversees and supports rent bank operations across the province.
Hemant has 10 years’ experience in IT-related work, including web and software development. In 2012, he earned a Bachelor of Technology degree in India before moving to Canada to complete a post-graduate diploma in internet programming and database management. An avid learner, Hemant is interested in new technologies and in keeping up with what’s happening in the industry.
Anju is a technology consultant who has worked in the non-profit, education, and arts sectors for over 15 years. Her approach to building technology uses participatory design to ensure that the needs and interests of users are a priority in her technology products and builds. At BC Rent Bank, Anju brings to her work a commitment to building a low barrier as possible technology system and interface for British Columbians in need to apply for rent bank loans, and for case managers to access and administer these applications.
Our Community Partners
