I am a 45-year-old single mom of four children – twins, and an eight-year-old and six-year-old.
Our landlord has sold the place we currently live and we need to move by June 30. We are a kind, polite, honest, clean family with a small dog, just wanting a very long-term place to live.
So why is it so hard to find a suitable place to live right now? What the heck is going on?
Landlords have one rent advertised in the morning, and by dinner the rent magically goes up by $300-400. One-bedroom basement suites are going for $800-plus.
What is a family to do?
I receive $700 for shelter and $652 for bills, food, gas and everything else per month from provincial disability. I am disabled both physically and mentally so my income is that to make work. How?
I go to bed in tears, and shortly after kids go to school, and I search and make calls. I end up in tears and pure panic. The closer the time gets the more I think, “We are going to be homeless”“come Canada Day.
How did things in the housing – selling, buying, and renting – market get so bad? Does the MLA and the government not see what is happening to Canadian families? I know we are not alone. I see new posts every day with people who have limited incomes looking for housing – clean, spacious yard, good neighbourhood for kids, allowing pets.
We have lowered our ideals to nearly nothing to accept the dirty and small, in neighbourhoods not so good. I hope I have instilled good enough values that my kids walk away from the negative actions of others.
I believe that there will be more and more homeless families in the next few months as landlords give notice to sell their properties. Sad.
Louann Johnson
