The B.C. Government is increasing the daily rates it will pay for eligible income assistance clients at registered or licensed care home for the first time in a decade.

Poverty Reduction Minister Shane Simpson says rates for registered mental health and substance use homes will increase from $30.90 to $35.90 per day, rates for licensed mental health homes will increase from $30.90 to $45 per day, and rates for licensed substance use homes will increase from $40 to $45 per day.

“For too long, these facilities have struggled with financial challenges of an increasing number of people who need their support,” Simpson said. “Others in the community have spoken to me about the challenges of being able to deliver important services and being able to do that within the payment structure that has been in place.”

Simpson says these rate increases will help do two things.

“It will begin to address the full extent of cost pressures experienced by operators and it will help ensure that people on income and disability assistance have access to mental health and substance use support when they need it.”

Simpson says his ministry pays these daily user fees directly to the facilities, adding a number of these facilities are often an essential part of somebody’s journey to recovery.