Manitoba boosts rental allowance, introduces work program

Rental allowance is increasing in Manitobaafter years of being stagnant and falling far behind the soaring costs of rent.

People on employment and income assistance(EIA) andliving in private rental accommodations will receive increases of between $50 and $70 per month for shelter costs. That means single individuals, for example, will receive $435 per month, compared to the previous $365.

The announcement was made Thursday byTheresa Oswald, Manitoba's minister of jobs and the economy.

It is part of a larger overhaul to the rental allowanceprogram. Oswald introducedRent Assist, a new program for both social assistance recipients and other low-income earners, which willreplace the currentEIAshelter allowance andRentAidprograms.

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Repeating the government's promise made in the March 2014 provincial budget, Oswald said the rental allowancewill increase over the next four yearsto 75 per cent of theaverage cost of renting a space (based onmedian market value).

DavidNorthcott, executive director at Winnipeg Harvest, applauded the move, saying he sees too many people having to take money from their food budget to pay their rent.

"They (provincial government)made the promise. We've heard promises for years and years and years at Winnipeg Harvest, but the nice thing is there's some dollars attached to this and there's some support going through blue chip non-profit programs," he said.

A new Rent Assist calculator will be available on the Manitoba government website in July to help peopledetermine if they are eligible for Rent Assist and their estimated benefit amount, Oswaldsaid.

She also announced on Thursday theManitoba Works! program, whichlinks people with employers who need skilled workers.

Community-based organizations will provide work experience to some 250EIArecipients and then help line them up with jobs.

The program is currently being piloted at four sites in the province including Opportunities for Employment, the Momentum Centre and Reaching E-Quality Employment Services in Winnipeg, and FireSpirit in northern Manitoba.

Employers have told us that more skilled workers are necessary so they can expand and grow, while community advocates have told us that greater supports are necessary to help those in need, said Oswald.

Manitoba Works! and Rent Assist will help low-income Manitobans succeed at work and increase their income, while also helping Manitobas economy meet the growing demand for skilled workers.