UNCEDED xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (MUSQUEAM), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (SQUAMISH) AND səlilwətaɬ (TSLEIL-WAUTUTH) TERRITORIES: BC Rent Bank, a project funded by the Province of B.C., has provided seed and operational funding support to establish Williams Lake’s first-ever rent bank.

The Social Planning Council of Williams Lake has partnered with the Canadian Mental Health Association – Cariboo Chilcotin, which will execute the six-month pilot program to provide assistance to local renters experiencing short-term financial emergencies that are jeopardizing their housing stability.

BC Rent Bank Project Lead Melissa Giles says: “We are expanding and funding the growth of the rent bank network across the entire province because our goal is to ensure that every renter in B.C. can access a rent bank and its support services, contributing to keeping people housed.”

Anne Burrill, Executive Director of the Social Planning Council of Williams Lake, says: “Maintaining stable housing is even more critical now because rents are going up rapidly and rental vacancy and availability are very low.”

For more information, see the media release issued by the Social Planning Council of Williams Lake.