A single father on the west coast of Newfoundland is struggling to find affordable housing for himself and his young children. Robert King has separated from his wife and is in the process of looking for housing for himself and his two young children. But in Corner Brook, King has found only landlords inundated with applicants. Speaking with Newfoundland Morning, King explained some of the struggles he faced throughout his quest. “Finding a place here is crazy,” King said. “As soon as one becomes available, you can message them and you won’t get a single message back because there are so many people looking. It’s incredible.” King explained that while things are not as extreme as they appear on the province’s east coast, referring to images of prospective renters and buyers queuing for viewings, he said he has seen apartments while other people are still inside. When King was still with his wife, the couple turned to the government asking about the housing program. According to him, they were told that their income was too high to qualify for assistance. He would apply again after their breakup, but was rejected again. With an income, King isn’t sure what to do next. “I have a decent job. It took me years to get that job. But with the rent and everything else, you’ve got the gas going up… heat and light. On one income, you can’t do it. “ He added that in his current home, he pays $1,200 a month in rent but keeps getting turned down for a mortgage. King is calling for more options for people in similar situations, saying NL Housing should have a set number of units available for emergencies. Access to affordable housing across Newfoundland and Labrador has become a struggle, says Steve Gaulton of the Community Mental Health Initiative. (Chance Lagaden/CBC) “The government should be able to step in and say, ‘Hey, don’t worry. We got you. Can’t find a seat? We’ve got you.” Not just turning around and saying, “Well, there’s nothing we can do.” King explained that the hardest part of the ordeal for him was looking at his kids and knowing they don’t deserve what they’re going through.
A very common theme
According to a housing and support worker for the Community Mental Health Initiative, stories like King’s are common throughout Newfoundland and Labrador. Speaking to Newfoundland Morning, Steve Gaulton said he deals with situations like these every day. Gaulton explained that when big development projects and economic booms come to certain areas, the workers coming to those areas require housing just like everyone else. He feels the construction of the new hospital in Corner Brook has contributed to the fight. This, combined with global inflation, is leading to significant shortages in affordable housing. Overall, Gaulton agrees with King’s assessment of the market. “I relate it to fishing. You just put it out there and hope someone bites. Sometimes, we get lucky and get a response and try to start a conversation.” Gaulton echoes King’s sentiment that there needs to be further support for people in these situations. However, finding these solutions is proving easier said than done. “As Mr. King said, it’s full of challenges. Right now, we’re mostly dealing with the emergency side of things,” Gaulton said. “When it gets to a point where someone is on the street, then we have to use the emergency services. We have two emergency shelters here. That’s where we are.” Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador
