‘It’s just crazy’: Calgary senior has to wait 2-5 years for low-income housing

Low-income housing for seniors in Calgary is a waiting game that one Calgarian living with her son says is taking too long.

“Two to five-year waiting list, that’s how long it is, and it’s just crazy,” Sandy tells CityNews.

Sandy says she is on a waitlist and has been told not to expect availability for at least another 2-5 years. She asked CityNews not to show her face for fear it may impact her chances of getting a place.

“We called every place that subsidizes, and … if you’ve got $2,300, $2,600–whatever a month–sure, you can rent a place, a senior’s place, but we don’t have that,” Sandy said.

“We have our pension that’s it. We don’t even make that much.”

Kyle Fawcett, the CEO of Silvera for Seniors and one of the seniors’ facilities CityNews contacted, agrees, saying the waitlist for independent living is over 1,000 people long.

“We’ll be turning over 60 to 70 units a year,” he said.

Accordingly, units can be made available within six months depending on specific requirements, like the choice of facility and room size.

However, Fawcett says demand for Silvera’s units remains high, adding “some people could be on the waitlist forever.”

While Sandy, now in her 70s, is just looking for a bachelor suite, another senior says she was one of the lucky ones.

“Silvera was absolutely incredible,” Christine tells CityNews.

“They are so good for seniors that are low income and the fact that I am allowed to have my pet, unbelievable. My life is just, perfect.”

For people like Sandy, there are places to reach out to for help including the Kirby Center, Silvera and Carya.

“The government has to get their act together because there are a lot of baby boomers coming up that need these places,” she said.