Calgary housing strategy talks kick off Thursday amid ‘crisis’ situation

Calgary’s housing crisis will be in the spotlight Thursday, as members of the city’s Community Development Committee are set to review the housing strategy; hearing a list of recommendations to make lodging more affordable, increase the supply, and help tenants.

Discussions will take place over the next two days, before a special meeting is held Saturday.

Over 100 people have registered to share their stories and concerns as the committee tackles the problem, ahead of a decision by council on a new strategy by the weekend.

“It is a crisis, and city council just has to act,” said Elizabeth McLennan with the Calgary Alliance for the Common Good, a non-profit, non-partisan group of unions, schools, and community groups in Calgary representing more than 35,000 people.

For people looking for a place to live, it’s been a dire situation.

Amie Dawn moved from Edmonton to Calgary for a new job opportunity in April.

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She says it has felt impossible trying to find a place in her budget and, after settling on a bedroom for $800, she was told her room would soon be pushed to $1,200 a month.

“I’m going to have to lose my job here and move back to Edmonton or move back to Saskatchewan. I’ve been every day, every day on the computer just to find something that’s reasonable, that’s a good fit,” Dawn said. “It’s scary.”

McLennan says the housing crisis is in the spotlight for her because of her granddaughter.

“I have a granddaughter who’s 26 years old, she lives with two of her friends because it takes three of them to actually be able to afford the rent. They live in a small two-bedroom apartment,” McLennan said. “There should be more affordable housing so these young people don’t have to get together to live in crowded circumstances.”

Dawn says she understands that interest rates been raised, but there’s no reason rent needs to skyrocket as high as it has.

“It’s insane,” she added.

And, having a good income and references doesn’t seem to be helpful either.

“I have a really good job, I pay my bills on time, I have referrals,” Dawn said. “I’m probably like the best tenant ever, and if I can’t find something — it’s terrifying.”

People of all ages are struggling to find affordable housing.

Mateusz Salmassi with the University of Calgary’s Student Union says even though the school year is now well underway, many students still have no place to live.

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“We’re still hearing about students who don’t have a place to live. I’ve heard stories of students who are considering sleeping on the campus,” he said. “We’re hearing those who did find housing are counting themselves lucky for paying anywhere from $650 to $900 to share a bedroom.”

In some cases, the amount of people living in one house seems impossible to fathom.

“I’ve heard more extreme situations of 20 people living in one home, 20 students living in one home with two washrooms and one kitchen and that’s just not okay in a place like Calgary,” Salmassi said.

People are planning on rallying, starting at noon outside city hall, to get their messages across.

McLennan said she and her group are hoping Calgary council passes all of the housing recommendations, including the zoning changes, to allow more residences to be built.

“We can’t attract business or new people to Calgary if we have nowhere for them to live,” she said.