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The Housing Crisis from a Social Worker's Perspective
06/14/2009 - 21:00

As a community health social worker in Toronto, I visit people every day in the homes they are at imminent risk of losing due to eviction. Many are receiving ODSP or CPP or some combination of the two, sometimes OW, or perhaps if they are over 65 they may receive Old Age Security and the Guaranteed Income Supplement which are modestly more generous than the other social assistance programs. Most are unable to work due to their health condition. Their housing options are grim but are usually as follows:

Back to my Motherland
06/13/2009 - 15:47

I am a 55 year old woman who returned to Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario in April 2006 after living in the United States for twenty years. I had divorced, sold my small home and split the funds with my husband and came back to Canada where my son and grandchild live to the city of my birth.

I had twenty years of employment in the Insurance Industry in Canada as well as ten years of employment working in the field of Mental Health in the United States and excellent references from my employers.

Affordable housing -- It's very nice to dream about
06/12/2009 - 14:25

When I was working, I worked in retail for minimum wage and worked 30 hours a week ($1180/month on average) and finding an affordable place was hard ($675/month). Even then I would have to steal from Peter to pay Paul but at least I had a telephone, an internet connection and the ability to shop in second hand stores for clothing. I had a room-mate to assist me with paying the bills and buying groceries...life is easier when the higher costs of living are split 50/50.

Why do we pay so much money in Toronto for so little standards
06/09/2009 - 00:58

I am middle class, with a university degree I pay $1000 a month for a one bedroom apartment at Queen and Dufferin. I have cockroaches, mice, paper thin walls, bad electricity and pumbing, an uncommunicative landlord and I just found out after 6 years of living here that the apartments are illegal (not registered with the City of Toronto) - I guess that explains why the three apartments have one mailbox.

slipping between the cracks
06/01/2009 - 12:10

my sister is blind and developmentally delayed and had been institutionalized all her life. she functioned well enough that when she married, another blind person, they were able to live on their own. her husband, has passed away and now she is on her own. she has a great place to live at first place in hamilton but between the rent and the meals (she cannot cook for herself) she accummulates hundreds of dollars of debt each month. her family is not in a position to help her financially. disability pays her $800/month. rent is $440, meals, 500, phone and bills $100.