Housing Applications
The Comox Valley Affordable Housing Society provides housing for low-to-moderate income members of our community. With over 100 units in total, CVAHS plays a huge roll in affordable housing for the Comox Valley Regional District. General application guidelines are listed on this page, however each property has their own eligibility criteria, more details are available on the individual property pages.
Applications for CVAHS affordable housing are taken through the BC Housing Registry
Eligible Groups
Note: Not all groups are eligible for all buildings – please see individual building guidelines for further details
Family
Defined as a minimum of two people, including one dependent child.
Who is considered a dependent child?
- Under 19 years of age.
- Under 25 years of age and registered in full-time school, university, or vocational institute which provides a recognized diploma, certificate, or degree.
- Of any age who, because of mental or physical infirmity, is accepted as a dependent for income tax purposes.
Senior
Defined as a single person aged 60+, or a couple aged 60+. Alternatively, someone with disabilities aged 55+ will qualify as a senior for CVAHS housing purposes.
Persons with Disabilities
Those who can live independently, and are in receipt of a recognized disability pension, or are considered disabled for income tax purposes.
Singles and Couples
You are a single person, or a couple, with a low income, and homeless, or at risk of homelessness. In addition, you do not meet the definitions of seniors or people with disabilities.
Residency Requirements
Applicants must permanently reside in British Columbia when applying, and each member of the household must be one of the following:
- Canadian citizen.
- Individual lawfully admitted into Canada for permanent residence.
- Refugee sponsored by the Government of Canada.
- Individual who has applied for refugee status.
No adult members of the household can be under private sponsorship, except where BC Housing has accepted that private sponsorship has broken down.
CVAHS takes applications from applicants living locally, as well as outside the Comox Valley regional district – however, local members of the community with demonstrated need, and who have completed the application process, may be given preference dependent on their situation and application details.
Assets
To qualify for housing with CVAHS, your household must have less than $100,000 in assets. This rule helps make sure housing goes to those who need it most, without requiring people to use up all their savings.
Assets that count include things like:
- cash, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, real estate (after debts are taken off), and money or property in a privately owned business.
Some assets don’t count toward the $100,000 limit. These include personal items like:
- Vehicles, jewellery, and furniture; scholarships or bursaries for students in the household; and registered savings like RESPs, RRSPs, and RDSPs.
- Tools or equipment needed for your job
- Any money received from government settlements, like Indian Residential School or Japanese Canadian Redress payments.
Income Limits
Subsidized Housing is for households with a limited income. To qualify, your total household income must be below a certain limit set by BC Housing. This limit is based on what it typically costs to rent a suitable home in the private market, using data from Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC).
Affordable Rental Housing is for people with low to moderate income who may not qualify for subsidized housing. These units have rents that are at or below average market rates. CVAHS uses local CMHC data to set the rental rates. For example, in 2023, to rent a bachelor or one-bedroom unit, your household income must be under approximately $82,310
Exclusion from BC Housing Registry
Applicants may be excluded from CVAHS housing if they have issues such as a poor tenancy history, provided false information, owe money to housing providers, or don’t meet basic eligibility (like income programs, residency, or ability to live independently).
Some behaviours can also result in exclusion, including:
Anti-social behaviour (harassment, vandalism, substance abuse)
Risks to safety (violence, assault, gang involvement)
Nuisance issues (noise, cleanliness, minor tenancy violations)
Mandatory exclusions apply to those with convictions or charges related to child sexual offences.
Applicants may still be considered if:
The problematic household member is no longer part of the application.
At least 5 years have passed since related offences.
They provide proof of rehabilitation or stable tenancy references (6–12 months depending on severity).
Each application is reviewed case by case, and applicants can provide supporting documentation.
Applicants who have previously
lived in subsidized housing
Tenants who previously lived in subsidized housing may be eligible to reapply, provided they meet the residency, income limit, and target group criteria, as well as the following special criteria:
- Applicants must have no outstanding debt from any previous tenancy with BC Housing or any members of the Housing Registry. Applicants with outstanding debt will be asked to pay in full or enter into a repayment plan for the outstanding amount.
- Previous subsidized housing tenants may be subject to a file review. If the previous tenancy was ended for cause, applicants may not be eligible to reapply. Files will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.