Affordability
Affordability is at the core of the Rental Protection Fund’s mission. By protecting rental homes today, renters can stay in their communities while creating a lasting legacy of secure, affordable housing for future generations.
A Growing Gap
For every new affordable rental home built, four are lost to investors, conversions, demolitions, and rent hikes. The demand keeps growing, but supply struggles to keep up—underscoring the urgent need to protect the affordability that exists today.
Without protection, many units would transition to market rates upon turnover, permanently losing their affordability.
average below market rents secured
average 1BR rent for homes secured by the Fund
increase in rents if flipped to market
Affordable housing: who benefits?
The Rental Protection Fund safeguards homes for low-to-middle income households—renters who don’t qualify for subsidies but face rising housing costs. By preserving affordability, the Fund ensures these homes remain within reach for those who need them most.
Aunt Leah's Properties: Affordable homes, new beginnings
Aunt Leah’s provides safe, affordable homes for youth transitioning from foster care and young parents at risk of homelessness. In 2024, the organization acquired a 41-unit building in Burnaby’s Hastings corridor, with rents well below local market rates, protecting a rare source of attainable housing in the community.
With an innovative model, some suites are rented to Aunt Leah's program participants at shelter rates, while keeping all units affordable. This approach secures affordability while providing a stable and affordable home for those facing some of the highest barriers to housing.
CBC’s The National recently featured two tenants’ stories, highlighting why protecting homes like these matters more than ever.
below market rents
ongoing Rental Protection Fund subsidies
monthly shelter rate rents
average area 1 bedroom market rents
Turning protection into possibility:
Reimagined space
Aunt Leah’s transformed an underused office space into a bright, nurturing home, showing the non-profit's creativity and dedication to serving tenants.
Community roots
The building maintains a strong connection to Aunt Leah’s Foundation, extending more than 30 years of work helping youth and young parents find stability and independence.
Supporting the next step
Two program participants have already moved in—settling into their new homes and thriving in an environment designed to support their next chapter.