Government of New Brunswick

Housing Assistance for Persons with Disabilities

Service New Brunswick

Overview

Programs are offered by this department and provide financial assistance for:
- Homeowners with total household income at or below the applicable Housing Income Limit undertaking accessibility work to modify a dwelling occupied or intended to be occupied by persons with disabilities.
- Homeowners modifying their property to create a secondary/garden suite for adult persons with disabilities.
- Landlords undertaking accessibility work to modify rental properties with self-contained units having rents that are acceptable to this department and occupied or intended to be occupied by tenants with disabilities with income at or below the applicable Housing Income Limits.
- Landlords undertaking accessibility work to modify rooming houses with bed unit rents acceptable to this department and occupied or intended to be occupied by tenants with disabilities.

Eligibility

Any individual who is restricted or lacks the ability (resulting from an impairment) to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal may be eligible.

Other Conditions:
- Modifications to existing dwellings must be housing related and/or provide access to permanently install, basic facilities within the dwelling.
- All work shall conform to the requirements of the most current National Building Code.

Eligible Properties:
- Any residential property where: work will be undertaken to improve accessibility for a disabled occupant/tenant.
- Secondary/garden suites can only be created on existing family housing residential properties. The applicant must be able to demonstrate that the property can feasibly be converted to include a secondary or garden suite which will meet this department's requirements. Units created shall be modest in size and amenities.
- Additions to existing dwellings may also be eligible as long as they meet this department's requirements.
- Only properties that meet acceptable standards of health and safety are eligible

Description

For homeowners in need of disabled accessible modifications assistance is in the form of a forgivable loan up to a maximum of $10,000. Additional assistance may be available in the form of a repayable loan based on a household's ability to repay.

Landlords are eligible for a forgivable loan for disabled modifications to a maximum of $10,000.

The maximum forgivable loan for the creation of a secondary/garden suite or an extension to an existing dwelling is $24,000. The applicant is required to produce equity or provide proof of other sources of financing to cover the cost of creating a secondary/garden suite or an extension which exceed the maximum forgivable loan available.

The housing response to an applicant's particular situation is based on the needs of the applicant(s) and the most cost effective solution to address his/her current housing situation.