To encourage and support seniors to live independently and stay in their homes, the provincial governments in Canada provide grants and loans to homeowners who need to make repairs, renovations, or modifications that will make their homes safer or more accessible.
The eligibility requirements for each program vary, but generally, you’ll need to meet a minimum age requirement and have a household income below a certain threshold.
This article covers the government grants for seniors to stay in their own homes in each province of Canada.
Key Takeaways
- Most government grants for home renovations for seniors are typically tailored to benefit applicants with low to moderate incomes.
- Some provinces, including Ontario, Prince Edward Island, and Yukon, offer financial help for essential services such as housekeeping and community programs, and not just home repairs or renovations. These services aim to make living independently easier and cheaper for seniors.
Government Grants for Seniors to Stay in Their Homes
Alberta
Seniors Home Adaptation and Repair Program (SHARP)
This program allows eligible seniors to obtain a low-interest home equity loan of up to $40,000 from the provincial government to fund renovations, adaptations, or repairs to their homes. Seniors must earn $70,000 or less annually and be at least 65 years old to be eligible.
British Columbia
BC Seniors’ Home Renovation Tax Credit
This tax credit allows seniors who need to renovate their primary homes for the purposes of improving functionality or mobility to receive 10% of the total qualifying renovation expenses as a tax credit. The maximum amount that can be claimed is $1,000.
BC Rebate for Accessible Home Adaptations (BC RAHA)
To provide financial assistance for seniors living at home who need to renovate their residences to continue living independently, the BC RAHA program provides rebates of up to a one-time maximum amount of $20,000.
To be eligible, seniors must have a before-tax household income of less than $128,810 and household assets of less than $100,000.
Residential Rehabilitation Assistance Program On-Reserve
Open to all First Nations or individual First Nation members, this program provides financial support of up to $60,000 per unit to low-income households who need to undertake repairs, modifications, and conversions.
The income threshold varies depending on the applicant’s location.
Related: Government Subsidized Housing For Seniors
Manitoba
Safe and Healthy Home for Seniors Program
This seniors grant helps cover the cost of home accessibility and safety upgrades that allow seniors aged 65 years old and older to remain safe and comfortable living in their own homes.
The maximum funding is up to $5,000 ($6,500 for remote areas), and applicants must earn $60,000 or less per year to be eligible.
New Brunswick
Homeowner Repair Program
This program offers a forgivable loan of up to $5,000 for households that need essential adaptations to facilitate seniors’ independent living. To be eligible, applicants must be 65 years old or older, and their total household income must be below the income limit of their specific area.
Seniors Minor Home Repair Grant
This grant provides a one-time non-payable amount of up to $1,500 per household that needs to make minor home repairs that will improve the safety and well-being of seniors. Participants of the Seniors Health, Well-being, and Home Safety Review who are at least 65 years of age may apply for this grant.
Newfoundland & Labrador
Home Modification Program (HMP)
Designed to financially help low to moderate-income homeowners improve the safety and accessibility of their homes, the Home Modification Program offers an affordable loan of up to $7,500 or a repayable loan of up to $13,000.
To be eligible, applicants must not earn more than $46,500 (or $65,000 in the North coast of Labrador and in Labrador West) per year.
Northwest Territories
Seniors Aging-in-Place
This funding, available for residents 60 years old or older, aims to help seniors lower their home repairs or energy costs so they can remain independent.
This program provides a forgivable loan of up to $15,000 over one year, but those whose household income exceeds $59,000 must co-pay 10% of the repair costs.
Seniors Home Repair Grant
This grant provides a forgivable loan of up to $50,000 for households who need to make safety and health-related repairs to their existing homes to accommodate seniors better.
Low to middle-income earners whose income falls within the specified income thresholds of their community may apply. Households that earn at least $60,000 annually must shoulder 10% of the repair costs.
Nova Scotia
The Senior Citizens Assistance Program
For senior homeowners who want to live in their own homes yet cannot afford necessary health and safety-related repairs, this program offers a grant of up to $6,500 to shoulder the expenses.
Applicants or their spouses must be at least 65 years old, and their income must be below the established income limit that corresponds to their household size and area.
Nunavut
Elders Housing Program
This program provides financial support for residents aged 60 years old or older who need to make modifications or upgrades to make their homes safer and more accessible.
Eligible applicants can receive a grant of up to $30,000 for repairs and up to $5,000 for maintenance.
Home Renovation Program
Available for all homeowners in Nunavut who want to renovate or repair their homes, this program offers a one-time forgivable loan of up to $100,000 or a grant that’s worth 50% of eligible repair/renovation expenses (of up to $20,000).
This program is stackable with the Elders Housing Program.
Ontario
Seniors Community Grants
This program offers grants that can be used by seniors to pay for activities that can help them live independently while interacting with the community. Grant amounts range from $1,000 to $25,000, and those 55 years old and older are eligible.
Home Repair Program
Also known as Ontario Renovates, this program provides financial assistance to low-income seniors who need to make essential repairs and modifications to improve the livability of their homes.
Eligible senior applicants can receive a 10-year forgivable loan of up to $15,000 for repairs and modifications and a grant of $5,000 that’s exclusively for accessibility modifications.
Prince Edward Island
Seniors Independence Initiative
This program provides financial assistance that seniors can use toward essential services, such as housekeeping, snow removal, and meal preparation, that can help them remain in their homes.
Applicants must be at least 65 years old and earn $32,753 or less to be eligible. Depending on their income, seniors can receive up to $1,700 from this initiative.
Yukon
Pioneer Utility Grant
The Pioneer Utility Grant provides financial assistance to Yukon seniors to cover the cost of heating their homes.
To be eligible, seniors must be 65 years old or older and earn $130,923 or less annually. Depending on where the applicant lives, the maximum grant is either $1,253.56 or $1,337.48.
Home Repair Program
Yukon residents who need to repair or increase the accessibility or air quality of their homes can receive varying grants or loans from the Home Repair Program. Depending on the exact nature of repairs, homeowners can receive up to $30,000 or a loan of up to $70,000.
Related:
does this include those on reserve ?