Dear Community,
Many of our residents are new and may not be aware of our current housing crisis. If you are newer to the island (or a long-timer) and have a place that could be rented out, but you haven’t yet for any reason, will you reconsider? We currently have single individuals, elders, and (most imperatively), families with children that are precariously housed, or actually homeless. With the drastic rise in real estate, it has left many regular folks with no where to turn. Many people have called this community home for years, contributed to the local economy in various ways, retired here, or raised children here. They are now left out in the cold, literally and figuratively.
If you are able to offer a secure rental, please reach out and I will be happy to help you (anonymously) connect with potential tenants. If you are someone in dire need of housing, please also contact me with your information, we need to start working together to match up those with rental spaces, and those who need them. Your privacy is of utmost importance, and I will help facilitate connections with confidentiality to protect the personal circumstances of all parties.
Please keep in mind that while the price of real estate has skyrocketed, the incomes of working families, single people, and retired seniors have not risen at the same pace. If you are able to provide a rental, please also consider renting below what is currently considered “market rent”. As it is well over 50% of the income of many. Finding a home is an emergency for many right now, homeless children seniors and local workers does not reflect well on this community. Not only do homes need to be found immediately, folks need to be able to afford it without going destitute (not able to pay bills or basic expenses due to high rents). I appreciate some landowners cannot afford to rent for lower, thankfully there are some people who can afford the higher “market rents”. It is just a matter of matching up the various individual tenants and landowners who will suit each other. If you are reading this, and you know someone else who might have a space available will you please approach them about it?
As we approach the holidays and share the cheer and joy within our own homes, remember that there are families with no home right now, so let us please take drastic action without hesitation.
laurathomson@telus.net
Laura Thomson
