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The B.C. government will be offering $500 a month to help renters dealing with a loss of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The supplemental funds will be available through B.C. Housing for the next four months and paid directly to landlords when a tenant cannot pay rent.

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“We are doing everything we can to make sure that if (people) are sick or self-isolating, or if they have had their hours cut back or they were laid off that they would not be fearful of losing their home,” B.C. Premier John Horgan said.

Horgan said only people unable to pay their rent should apply for the rental supplement.

“The fewer people who access the program, the more opportunity we have to expand it,” said Horgan, noting there are about 500,000 renters in B.C. “I appeal to those who have perhaps savings accrued … and can continue to keep themselves going in the short term, please do so, so that we can make sure we target resources where they’re most needed.”