As Audrey Morin looks around her new rental house, she can't help but look tired.
She's moved several times over the last 20 years, the latest one from Sandy Lake where she shared a house with other families.
"You run into other people's privacy," she says. "And we have to share everything - our personals (and) our food."
She knows she is luckier than many others in her situation. A single mother on a fixed income, she has a house that is in fair condition and the St. Vincent De Paul Society donated furniture because she couldn't afford to bring her own furniture.
But her rental house has come at a cost - her rent is twice what she is given by social assistance, making it hard for her to find affordable housing.
A new survey released by the Canada West Foundation, a Western Canada-based policy think tank, 18 per cent of homeowners and 40 per cent of renters are paying more than 30 per cent of their household income towards shelter costs.
According to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, those who pay above the 30 per cent mark for housing are not living in affordable accommodations.
Joan Corneil, director of economic development and planning for the city, pointed out that people who try to find an affordable place in Prince Albert and across the province are running up against rising rates and non-rising incomes. Sharing becomes the reality in an expensive housing market no matter the location.
"Are we look at a situation where, England being one and Singapore being another, most of the time if you don't have a large income, you live with other family members," she says.
For Morin, this is a very true statement. Since she can't afford her rent alone, she's decided to share her new place with childhood friend, Peggy Bighetty.
Morin hopes to own her own home someday, once she can get her resources together and find a low income home.
But for now, she hopes her new move will help ease the burden of affordable housing for her, her family and her friend.
kjarvis@paherald.sk.ca
Affordable housing elusive, says survey
Audrey Morin, foreground, carries chairs donated by the St. Vincent De Paul Society into her new rental house while Henry Siwak follows with more donated goods. Herald photo by Kristina Jarvis
As Audrey Morin looks around her new rental house, she can't help but look tired.
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Comments
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- S
- - November 18th, 2009
I am a renter, and a single mother of 6, and employed. Merv, I do read the paper and the comments. Hahaha. But the high rents are ridiculous. It is hard to find affordable, clean, decent places to rent, especially if you have to pay daycare fees and have to feed seven people, let alone all the other monthly bills. I understand most landlords hesitancy about who they rent to, but they also do not like to rent to people with children. They seem to think that parents who rent, let their kids run wild 24/7, ruining the floors, breaking windows, coloring on walls. Obviously there is more wear and tear, but I make sure my children treat properties with respect. Landlords discriminate, and they are not supposed to. I would be one step from moving into a new place when I tell them that I have 6 kids and they make an excuse as to why I cannot rent from them. My children have felt guilty. Even when I had just the first two kids, and tried to find a home, we would be turned away when they saw that I had kids. The kids' father and I had our own home, but he got that when we separated 5 years ago, I got the kids. (For those of you who are wondering where the daddy is in all this) I am on my slow way to save money to buy my own home so I won't have to rent anymore.
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- Ed lives with
- - November 18th, 2009
woman complaining about they cost of daycare schooling clothes blah blah blah,I Listened to a woman complain about school supplies on the radio and she has 6 kids, my god.Its pretty obvious where her brain is. We all no the cost of bringing up a family. If you cant afford to look after yourself why bring a child into the world and not be able to even put a roof on there head.WHERES THE COMMON SENSE PEOPLE! YEAH LETS LOOK FOR THE GOVERNMENT FOR HANDOUTS LOSERS
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- curious
- - November 18th, 2009
Nice article, however the housing authority isn't the only landlord in town--The Daily Herald should go back to this new tenent and interview her neighbors and landlord in one years time and see what side of the story they tell. There may be another reason why whe has moved so manay times in the past.
There's a reason so many landlords are picky about who they rent to-just take a drive through the west flat and look-Most of those delapitated run down homes are all rentals-the renters complain that the housing is substandard but yet they thought it was good enough when they moved in-some tenents seem to think that because they rent they don't have to maintain the yards or anything in the home-a little respect for their neighbors would be nice and much appreciated.
I have lived between two rental homes and it's been a nightmare-one crappy tement gets kicked out for partying-then the landlord renovates the home and another crappy tenent moves in and destroys the place all over again.
I realize there is a shortage but maybe thats because so many landlords are wary of who they rent to. The tenents know how to lie about references and they often put their family members down saying they rented from them-the landlord calls to check reference, not knowing the reference is actually a family member and then he gets the smooth line that sucks him into renting to another terrible tenent.
There is two sides to every story, however, the renters are always portrayed as the victim-they can't find good rentals because some bad people ruin it for everyone. There should be a site for landlords to put bad tenents names into so they don't keep moving from rental to rental destroying the home and general neighborhood. -
- mighty
- - November 18th, 2009
How can there be enough affordable housing out there when the housing authorities are renting first of all to their friends!Next is there are people living in these houses for the unfortunate that are not unfortunate!!They have very good paying jobs,I myself know of a couple of people that work at a very high and sought after job but he and his wife both live in a low income house!the kicker here is they have NO KIDS.Rumour has it they have a million in the bank,does this guy deserve to live in this house?Not !it is time for the housing authorities to step it up and come down on these tenants that are lying and live where they can afford not off of the poor!I
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- Observer
- - November 19th, 2009
I have a friend who lives in one of the Community Housing homes...and as far as I am concerned, it is one of the most unhealthy homes. Not because they are bad renters (their yard is gorgeous, the inside of the house is clean) but rather because most repairs done are never finished. My friends have had to deal with black mold growing up the walls in the livingroom and bedrooms for nearly 4 yrs. There is no insulation in the house, the doors have never fit so there are drafts strong enough to blow out a zip lighter, and the walls all bubble under the windows every winter. Every 3 or 4 months the situation is brought up to The Linda ...and nothing is done. Even the health inspector has gone there...listed the needed repairs...nothing. Wait, I lie...new furnaces were put in...but they were faulty and the heating bill went from $134 to over $300 until someone came to fix them nearly 3 months later.I believe they were told that there were 12 of these furnaces put in that were ALL faulty. But for them to move is out of the question. It will cost them $200 (and that is a hefty sum for them to come up with) to transfer to a different home. I ask you...how can it be that they are being forced to pay to stay healthy. Especially when the landlord gets gov't funding to provide safe homes?? And, when you look at some of the other properties owned by Community Housing, they are or have been rented by a certain person who is in charge's daughter...and is/was repaired at the first mention of an I would like.... When I first moved back into Prince Albert, I looked into renting from Community housing and when I was told of the goings on ...I was greatly dismayed at what type of house my daughter and I would have to live in. Luckily I have a brother who came to my rescue. At great imposition to him, he is now my landlord. My rent is high but that is only due to the mortgage rates but...and this is a big but...it is still cheaper than what my friend, her hubby (who is disabled) and their two kids have to pay. In conclusion, I am in agreement that there should be a list available for landlords that has the names of all the bad renters. Since there is none to date, maybe the landlords themselves could start one. Pass it around! But remember, there should also be a list made of the bad landlords. I know who should be at the top of the list........
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- K
- - November 19th, 2009
Yeah, renters obviously can't read the paper. We can't afford to buy a home so we must all be un-educated. Good statement Merv.
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- Ed lives with
- - November 19th, 2009
get a job and you can afford the rent,I see people driving brand new cars and living in Edmonton housing.Yeah some now how to milk the system! people always looking for a free ride
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- Merv
- - November 19th, 2009
Yes there is a rental shortage everywhere - Sask. and AB - and other cities also - and most definately there is a rental attitude - that they don't have to keep the place clean, not have every person in the family come to use the washer/dryer , have a dog or dogs, have parties into the night, not cut the grass , but break the windows and screens , need I go on. And they have signed in the agreement that they are not any of these type of people - not druggies or intent to be , that they will pay on time, notify you of any water or toilet tank problems , and have to also signed to allow inspection of the premises - only to find out that they change the locks.... etc.
There should be a punishment law for these type of renters - and treat them accordingly until they cna prove they are responisble to reside in someone else's property.
I am so glad this topic got brought up --- if you are a renter - ( mind you what renters read the Herald !! or the comments) but if you do - what category do you fit into. Are you worthy of renting ?
And to those that are excellent renters - I have two in PA. and 4 in Edm - they are excellent. The places are treated like their own homes. Yes they have little problems - but they are totally reponsible and clean . I would proudly
recommend them as renters. -
- mighty
- - November 20th, 2009
I understand that there are a lot of underhanded things going on! But when it is brought to their attention at meetings about these so called low income people are living at the expense of the unfortunate,the worst part of it all is the housing manager not only knows about this she also participates in it!There is a so-called board to go thru but they couldn't care less they all have their families in each a house,by now you must be wondering how I know this.I worked for this scrubbie company and have a better life now and don't have to worry about Linda sneaking up on you
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- K
- - November 20th, 2009
Give her a break. P.A. needs more welfare cases.
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- md
- - November 20th, 2009
I agree with K from Sk. Lots of renters can and do read. I read online papers from all over Canada including this one. I like to read and know what is going on and I have only owned my home for 6 years. I know I Merv probably thinks I am beneath him (after all he owns 6 places) because heaven forbid I own a mobile home BUT it is mine. I also have a handicapped daughter who rents and works as much as she can and thanks to her wonderful gouging landlord she pays $1000.00 a month for a dark dingy 2 bedroom basement suite and I know that he doesn't read much more than his name and the numbers on the cheques. She is 40 and has been renting since she was 18 and never damaged any place she has lived nor has she ever failed to pay her rent on time. Not all low income people are adicts, alcoholics, or home wreckers, just as not all landlords are good ones. Oh by the way I have known her landlord for as long as he has been alive--he is my brother and not willing to give even his niece a break. He owns 3 properties.
