BC rent bank faces funding uncertainty after April.

Provincial funding for the BC Rent Bank has no guarantee after April 2026, and the organization says it may begin winding down unless the program is included in the province's 2026 budget.

The BC Rent Bank is reporting that its provincial funding has no guarantee after April 2026 and is awaiting a decision tied to the province's 2026 budget. The program, which began as a pilot in 2019, provides interest-free loans to renters facing short-term financial crises. BC Rent Bank leaders have said that, without renewed funding, they and many community partners will start winding down operations. Key points: - Provincial funding is not guaranteed after April 2026, according to BC Rent Bank managing director Melissa Giles. - The program has relied on provincial support since its 2019 pilot and offers interest-free loans to help renters through temporary crises. - The next funding decision is whether the program is included in the province's 2026 budget; without inclusion, the organization and local partners have said they will reduce or end services. Summary: If the province does not include BC Rent Bank in its 2026 budget, the organization and many community partners say they will begin winding down operations. That outcome, officials say, would put additional pressure on emergency shelters and community supports while the budget decision is resolved.