A24 - Wednesday, Sept. 16, 1981 - North Shore News

An important question for
seniors to keep asking is
“Am I getting all my
benefits?” and an especially
pertinent question today is
“Am I getting all my housing
benefits?” Increased rents
and higher property taxes
coupled with an almost zero
vacancy rate in commercial
rental accommodation, and
waiting lists for subsidized or

affordable rent in seniors:

complexes, are creating
problems for those on fixed
incomes. While there are no

” easy solutions to the housing

difficulties, there are some
social programs that are
designed to ease the
pressures. Make yourself
knowledgeable about these,
check to see if you are

_ eligible — then apply.

The best known program
is the provincial Govern-
ment Shelter Aid for Elderly
Renters (SAFER). This
provides direct monthly cash
assistance to renters 65 and
over, in receipt of Canada
Old Age Security, resident in
B.C. for two years and
paying more than 30% of
their income for rent.

The maximum amount of
rent on which you can claim
has recently been increased
to $265 per month for a
single person and $295 for a
couple. Seniors whose rent
payments exceed these
amounts may still apply for
SAFER benefits but may
claim only on the $265/$295
portions of the rent. An
important point to

10:00 A.M.

November 21
3 Resident

thon

spection at the
September 15

1981 September 01

eniors:

applied for

THE CORPORATION OF THE DISTRICT
OF WEST VANCOUVER

COURT OF REVISION
OF THE
LIST OF ELECTORS

TAKE NOTICE that the first sitting of the Court of
Revision of the List of Electors for the Municipality of
West Vancouver, for use at the Annuai Municipal Elec-
tions in November and during the year 1982, will be
held in the Council Chambers, Municipal Hall, West
Vancouver, B.C., on Tuesday, 1981 October 01, at

The Court shall hear all complaints and correct
and revise the List of Electors, and may correct the
names of electors in any way wrongly stated therein, or
add the names of electors omitted from the list, or strike
out the names of persons trom the list who are not en-
titled to vote or who are disqualified from voting or cor-
rect any other manifest error therein

It should be noted that a new list is compiled each
yeas based upon the following qualifications
1 Canadian citizen or British subject
2 19 years of age by polling day.

in Canada for the twelve months,

in British Columbia for the six months. and

in West Vancouver tor the three months
immediately preceding the date of applica.

Ownership of property no longer qualifies a per-
son to be automatically included on the List of Electors
but provision exusts to permit in certain circumstances,
non-resident persons and personal corporations own
ing or tenant in occupateun of property within the
Municipality to be registered

Persons so qualified as of 1981 August 31 who
did not register by the closing date. August 31
make apphbcation to the Court of Revision

The Itst as prepared will be available for in
Mumcipal Hall on and after

foe further information please phone
the Municipal Cierk 5s Office at 922 1271

remember is. that if you are
paying room and board in
someone else’s home, you
may if you are otherwise
eligible claim SAFER
benefits for the portion of
the amount that goes
towards the rent. For more
information and to find out if
you are eligible, Dial “O”
(for “Operator™) and ask for
Zenith 2656. This is a.toll
free line and the SAFER
staff are happy to be of help.
Ask to have an application
form sent. If you need

assistance in completing it.

call us, the North Shore
Information & Referral
Service, at 985-7138.

A second aid to renters on
lower incomes is the B.C.
Renters Tax Credit. This is
annually by
completing the regular T.1
Income Tax Return (even if
you had no taxable income)

and the accompanying
Renters Tax Credit
Schedule. The maximum

amount you receive is $150.
If you are already receiving
SAFER benefits these must
be deducted from the basic
Renters Tax Credit. If you
failed to apply for this
benefit last year, it is not too
late to make a_ claim.
Telephone the information
line at Revenue Canada,
689-5411. You will be sent
the appropriate form and if
you wish, given instructions
on how to complete it.
Besides providing
financial assistance to
tenants, the provincial

1981

may

1981

local 277

JO Allan
Municipal Clork

| n C@ ) : ,

‘

government maintains the
office of the Rentalsman to

help tenants understand
their rights and respon-

sibilities and to settle -
disputes when necessary.
The booklet “Renting?”,

obtained from Rentalsman
(call 689-0811), describes
these rights and _ respon-

sibilities. Be sure to read and |

refer to this publication and
if you have questions call the

Rentalsman at the above -

number.
For those who own their
homes, there are two

provincial programs that aim
to help seniors remain in
their homes. The first, the
Home Owner's Grant, is well
known and well utilized. The
grant is applied for at the
time property taxes are due.
Any questions should be
directed to your local
Municipal/City Hall.

The second program,-
“Deferment of Property
Taxes”, has to date been

largely ignored by North
Shore Seniors, yet it is a
tremendous. bargain.
Through this program,
seniors can have payment of
property tax put off until the
property is sold or tran-
sferred or left vacant for 10
years. At that time. the
amount of the accumulated
taxes, plus 8% on the
amount, is collected by the
Provincial. Government.

Your Municipal/City Hall-

will help you apply for this
benefit.

Mention has already been
made of the shortage of
affordable housing. There
are senior citizens’ com-
plexes in our community
that qualify as “affordable”
but these have long waiting
lists. If you think therefore

the FBDB were

right up my alley.

[hob zlls

Bob Willis, President
Evergreen Lanes.
Nanaimo. B.C.

that in the future this type of
accommodation would be of
interest, you should begin
your investigations now.
Most of the projects, which
are sponsored by nonprofit
societies, have a_ residence
and age requirement. Some
have an income or “savings”
ceiling. At many, the

residents may be eligible for

When I needed a term loan,

Classes start Sept. 16th
Wed. night, 8:15pm-10:30pm
at Highlands Community School
3150 Colwood, North Van

NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY
4 First Night Complimentary. .
Calt-987-7777 for Add’| information .

assistance in paying the rent..
For your convenience we__
have compiled a list of these .

_ seniors complexes. You can

have one free of charge by
dropping in at our office, the
North Shore Information &
Referral Service at 1551
Pemberton Avenue, North
Vancouver or phoning us at
985-7138.

I guess it’s not every day that
someone asks for a loan to open a bowling
alley. When two chartered banks declined
to give me the longer repayment term that I
needed —I went straight to the nearest
FBDB office.

The FBDB understood what I wanted
and made it possible for my dream to
come true.
Now the facilities include 12 bowl-
ing lanes, a pro-shop, meeting room, coffee
shop and lounge.
The FBDB have been with me all
along the line. The next time I need a loan

and can’t wait forever—I'll go right back to
the FBDB”’

q FEDERAL BUSINESS
2) DEVELOPMENT BANK

Your success is our only business

|) ~) SER US AT

BANQUE FEDERALE
DE DEVELOPPEMENT

Canada

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