Loading, about as long as a coffee at the Lion’s Head.
Loading, about as long as a coffee at the Lion’s Head.
Whether you're renting, facing eviction, short on rent this month, or without a place to sleep, help is local, and you don't have to figure it out alone.
Housing help, start here
The City of Castlegar doesn't own or rent out housing. But a handful of provincial, regional, and local organizations do, and most of them are reachable by one phone call.
This page is the map: tenant rights (provincial), subsidized housing (BC Housing), emergency rent (Kootenay Rent Bank), and the local shelter (Castlegar & District Community Services Society).
First calls
Eviction is rarely inevitable, even after notice. BC tenancy law gives tenants real options at every stage: dispute resolution at the RTB, payment plans through the Rent Bank, mediation, and short-term financial supports. Many people who land here in panic call one of the lines below, work through the next two weeks, and stay housed. Not every situation, but more than most assume. If you don’t know which call applies to you, start with the BC Residential Tenancy Branch at 1-800-665-8779, they’ll route you.
Call the BC Residential Tenancy Branch at 1-800-665-8779. They handle deposits, repairs, rent increases, notices to end tenancy, and dispute resolution. The City does not enforce tenancy law.
RTB helpContact the Kootenay Rent Bank through CDCSS at rentbank@cdcss.ca. They offer interest-free loans to prevent eviction for people experiencing short-term financial hardship.
Email Rent BankApply to the BC Housing Registry, one application covers most subsidized providers. Castlegar has four CMHA-operated complexes plus other BC Housing buildings.
Apply to BC HousingContact the Castlegar shelter via CDCSS. The shelter offers 24/7 overnight space, meals, and case management to help you find stable housing.
CDCSS shelterRental housing in British Columbia is governed by the provincial Residential Tenancy Act and administered by the Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB). The City does not mediate tenancy disputes or enforce rental terms.
Contact the RTB for help with:
Tip
Document everything
The Kootenay Rent Bank is run by the Castlegar & District Community Services Society and offers interest-free, repayable loans to people experiencing a short-term financial crisis that puts their housing at risk.
Eligible low-income households pay rent geared to income (typically 30% of household gross income, subject to minimums). Income limits are set by province-wide Housing Income Limits (HILs).
Apply once through the BC Housing Registry; your application is considered by all participating providers that match your criteria.
RAP gives cash assistance to low-income working families with children who rent in the private market (not subsidized housing). It's a direct monthly subsidy paid to the tenant.
SAFER does the same for renters age 60 and over. See the Seniors in Castlegar page for more.
In partnership with BC Housing, CMHA Kootenays operates four supportive-housing complexes in Castlegar:
More info at kootenays.cmha.bc.ca/programs/affordable-housing-program.
The Castlegar shelter, operated by the Castlegar & District Community Services Society (CDCSS), provides 24/7, year-round emergency shelter with meals, washrooms, laundry, and case management to help residents transition to stable housing.
CDCSS also operated the earlier Out of the Cold temporary winter shelter at 1660 Columbia Avenue. A new permanent shelter at 2245 6th Avenue is being delivered in partnership with BC Housing to provide up to 20 spaces year-round.
Good to know
Bring a friend or phone ahead
BC's rising housing costs have tightened the market in the Kootenays too. Programs that help:
Castlegar's Housing Strategy (2021) sets out the City's five focus areas: Affordable Housing, Housing Diversity, Rental Housing, Barrier Reduction, and Partnerships. The strategy is implemented through the Community Plan (Bylaw 1427) and Zoning Bylaw (Bylaw 1428), both adopted in July 2024.
BC Residential Tenancy Branch
Tenant & landlord rights, rent increases, disputes.
Kootenay Rent Bank
Emergency interest-free loans to prevent eviction.
BC Housing Registry
Apply for subsidized housing across BC.
CDCSS (Shelter + Rent Bank)
Castlegar & District Community Services Society.
CMHA Kootenays, Affordable Housing
Supportive housing in Castlegar and the region.
City Housing Strategy
How the City is addressing housing locally.
Still need help?
Faster than calling for non-urgent issues. We respond within one business day.
Housing information verified against the BC Residential Tenancy Branch, BC Housing, CMHA Kootenays, Castlegar & District Community Services Society, and the Province of BC. Programs and eligibility may change; confirm with each provider before applying.