We have a vision of community well-being through housing education and support.
Our intended impact is to deliver a high-quality educational experience that is relevant and practical, increase the number and locations of RentSmart courses offered each year and increase participants knowledge, skills and confidence to find and maintain appropriate housing.
We measure our impact in a number of ways:
- Course intake and evaluation forms
- Community Educator feedback
- Tracking 'RentSmart Support' issues and solutions
- Annual survey of graduates and community partners: Graduate Survey
- Annual Report: Annual Report 2017
- Annual Report: Annual Report 2018
Donna's Story
After living on-reserve for 30 years, Donna’s marriage ended and she was forced to find housing off reserve. Her life was in chaos dealing with alcohol, abuse and other issues that resulted in her being unable to find appropriate housing and being separated from her child.
After 18 months of living in a motor-home without running water or electricity, Donna asked M’akola Housing what she needed to do to secure housing, and they recommended RentSmart.
She took the course, learning what she needed to know when she moved off reserve. She developed a portfolio to take with her when she applied for housing – reference letters, credit check and, of course, her RentSmart Graduation Certificate. She presented this information to a prospective landlord who offered her an apartment.
Best of all, several months later M’akola Housing offered her 2-bedroom accommodation and she was reunited with her child.
Jennifer's Story
Jennifer Smith (a pseudonym) was referred to Ready to Rent BC by the Outreach Program at the YMCA. Jennifer was 20 years old and had been homeless for three years. At the time she took the RentSmart program she was 6 months pregnant and living with her family (partner and two dogs) in one room in what she describes as, “one of the worst flop houses in the city.”
As part of her RentSmart course, Jennifer learned new tools to help find and keep housing. She learned communications skills, her rights and responsibilities as a tenant and how to present herself to a landlord. She also defined some short and long term goals and committed to a personal contract outlining exactly what she wanted to accomplish during the six week program. One thing she wrote was to find a place and stay put for an entire year.
RentSmart caught up with Jennifer recently and her story is one of life-changing success. Jennifer found a place just before she finished the course and the family has remained in the rental home for well over a year. Jennifer, now a busy mom has no plans to move until they can afford to buy their own place. “In my contract, my biggest dream was to be in the same house for a while. Now I am on really good terms with the landlady. She’s even thinking of giving us a rent-to-own situation.”
Where We Are
“I have never had to evict someone with a RentSmart certificate.”
– Janice Webster, Capital Regional Housing Corporation
“I see a difference in RentSmart tenants. They are better neighbours and pay their rent on time. I always look for the RentSmart certificate now.”
– Tim O’Brien, Property Manager, Beacon Community Services
“Mid-way through the youth RentSmart group, there is already a tangible success directly related to program participation. One group participant, who has been couch surfing for several months, has managed to secure market housing before the course has even come to a close. Using her RentSmart knowledge and the reputation of the RentSmart program, she met a landlord and viewed a bachelor suite armed with knowledge and confidence. While that particular suite rented before she had a chance to complete the paperwork, the landlord reached out to her about another suite he had available. He indicated that she had made a great impression and that he really wanted her as a tenant knowing that she was enrolled in the RentSmart course. Using what she has learned so far, she successfully secured her tenancy and has begun to look into renter’s insurance.”
– Educator from Island Metis Family & Community Services Society