University students struggling to find housing amid affordability crisis | 24CA News
Luis Sanchez Diaz didn’t win a lottery this 12 months for on-campus housing on the University of Calgary, however he nonetheless considers himself fortunate.
The worldwide pupil, who’s in his fourth 12 months of a political science diploma, studied on-line in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 from Cuernavaca, Mexico. He moved to Calgary in fall 2021 and lived in a campus residence till he misplaced his spot in April.
“It was a lottery, so it really didn’t matter how early you applied, if you have paid your fees, how good of a tenant you were,” mentioned Sanchez Diaz, 24.
“So, whoever got it was offered a place to live in residence and whoever didn’t was put on a wait-list.”
Sanchez Diaz looked for a spot to stay off campus, which he mentioned was tense, and managed to discover a small, shared condo 5 minutes away from college by “pure luck.”
Not everybody has been so fortunate, nevertheless, as post-secondary college students throughout the nation wrestle to discover a place to stay earlier than college begins this fall.
The University of Calgary’s Students’ Union mentioned it has heard from many college students going through challenges, together with some who’re compelled to stay within the far corners of the town the place they’re poorly served by transit.
“They are seeing hour-and-a half, two-hour commutes, which makes it really difficult to work, let alone actually get to the classroom,” mentioned vice-president exterior Mateusz Salmassi.
“For those students who are able to find a place closer to campus, many of them are sacrificing safety for affordability and living in increasingly unsafe conditions, and then you’ve got students who are living in their cars because they don’t have an alternative.
“We’re sounding the alarm. This is not OK.”
Similar considerations have been raised throughout the nation as emptiness charges go down and rents skyrocket in lots of cities.
In Halifax, a company that helps girls discover shelter was not too long ago requested by one of many native universities to assist incoming college students who couldn’t discover a place to stay.
“I was shocked, really, that someone would come to an organization like ours,” mentioned Sheri Lecker, government director of Adsum for Women and Children. “We’re not the right people and we are also snowed under.”
Lecker mentioned all housing suppliers are struggling to seek out secure shelter for people who find themselves staying in tents, on benches and in vehicles.
The lack of inexpensive housing for all Canadians, together with college students, was a main focus at this week’s cupboard retreat because the federal Liberals ready their agenda for the autumn sitting of Parliament.
Politicians promised concrete motion on housing, however didn’t put any particular new applications on the desk.
The Canadian Alliance of Student Associations has referred to as on the federal authorities to spend $3.2 billion to construct 15,000 residence models throughout the nation inside six years.
Some universities have tried to ease the crunch, however say it’s tough to maintain up with the demand.
The University of British Columbia opened a brand new pupil residence in Vancouver earlier this month, which is to offer 316 further beds for college kids this fall.
“The No. 1 challenge is the same challenge that we are facing across the country right now, which is the shortage of affordable housing,” mentioned Andrew Parr, affiliate vice-president of pupil housing and group providers.
“There’s very limited access for students to find affordable and proximal housing off campus. So, that puts a huge demand on what we’re providing for students.”
That demand grows yearly, he mentioned, regardless of having added 5,500 on-campus beds previously 12 years.
In 2010, the wait record for pupil residences peaked at 3,200 college students. It grew to eight,000 college students this 12 months.
“The wait list has grown by the same amount of beds that we’ve actually added,” mentioned Parr.
Shane Royal, senior director of ancillary providers with the University of Calgary, mentioned the Alberta college hadn’t had a wait record for on-campus housing for nearly a decade.
“Post-COVID, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in applications to stay in residence,” he mentioned.
The ready record grew to 750 college students this 12 months, however Royal mentioned it has been whittled all the way down to 74 college students, as most of those that have been ready discovered off-campus housing.
“What’s pushing that now is the housing crisis in the city,” he mentioned. “The availability just is not there for students when our vacancy rate is below two per cent.”
Salmassi mentioned all orders of presidency must do extra to unravel the housing disaster.
Calgary’s metropolis council, for instance, has an opportunity to assist this fall by transferring ahead with suggestions from an inexpensive housing process drive, he mentioned. Those suggestions embrace rising and diversifying the housing provide and bettering residing situations in rental housing.
“Every level of government points at the other and is telling them to jump first on affordable housing,” Salmassi mentioned.
“You can’t do that in a housing crisis.”
