Rising rents, lack of available units and a near-zero vacancy rate in 100 Mile House are taking a toll on residents in the South Cariboo community.

The situation has become so desperate that J. Brondijk isnsa国际传媒檛 sure where she is going to sleep next month. She and neighbour were given notice in January that they would have to vacate their units in a 100 Mile four-plex by April 1 as the new owners want to move in.

sa国际传媒淭hey want my unit so now Isa国际传媒檓 out again,sa国际传媒� Brondijk said.

She is not alone. About 20 people in 100 Mile House are currently receiving or have been offered housing support in the last year, according to the Canadian Mental Health Association South Cariboo.

Marnie Jensen, an outreach worker with CMHA, said more people have been displaced in recent years, particularly following the 2017 wildfires when many homeowners sold their rental properties or moved into them themselves.

COVID-19 exacerbated the situation, she said, as more people from the Lower Mainland are buying up cheaper properties in rural areas like the South Cariboo.

This is led to a rise in both house prices rents, putting more pressure on the communitysa国际传媒檚 vulnerable population. She noted those on social assistance cansa国际传媒檛 afford the high rentals, with even single rooms in 100 Mile now going for $500 to $750.

According to Statistics Canada, the median income for people in 100 Mile House in 2016 - the latest year for such stats - was $43,136 per year.

sa国际传媒淚t makes it very hard,sa国际传媒� Jensen said, adding there are no apartments available anymore for $750. sa国际传媒淚f yousa国际传媒檙e just a roommate or renting a room you donsa国际传媒檛 have the same security or tenantssa国际传媒� rights. Itsa国际传媒檚 very tenuous.sa国际传媒�

Brondijk has struggled to find housing in the South Cariboo over the past 20 years. She previously lived at the Parkview Apartments for 12 years, but found herself homeless for nine months before moving into the four-plex. Shesa国际传媒檚 now worried she might be on the streets again.

The owners of Brondijksa国际传媒檚 building did not return repeated requests for an interview.

However, there is nothing legally stopping them from moving into the building, as long as they do so in good faith, according to a spokesperson with the Ministry of the Attorney Generalsa国际传媒檚 office.

The spokesperson said the government made changes last year to put the onus on landlords to sa国际传媒渁ct in good faithsa国际传媒� if they plan to end a tenancy for a landlordsa国际传媒檚 use, meaning they must honestly intend to use the rental unit for the purposes stated on the Notice to End Tenancy (NTE) for at least six months.

sa国际传媒淚f a tenant accepts the NTE in good faith, they are entitled to compensation from the landlord equivalent to one monthsa国际传媒檚 rent and must vacate the unit by the effective date of the notice.sa国际传媒�

Brondijksa国际传媒檚 neighbour Paula E., who asked that her last name not be used, said it still hurts as a renter to have to leave the home shesa国际传媒檚 had for the past 20 years.

Largely housebound due to spinal sclerosis, Paula said she wasnsa国际传媒檛 able to find anything available in 100 Mile House and is now moving to the Clinton Creek Estates seniorsa国际传媒檚 facility. Packing up her belongings has been an emotional process.

sa国际传媒淚 cansa国际传媒檛 really blame the new owners because years ago there was a big surge of people buying low and selling high down on the Coast,sa国际传媒� Paula, 73, said. sa国际传媒淭he same thing happened then, thatsa国际传媒檚 happening now. People sold their houses for more than theysa国际传媒檇 ever thought they would and come into the Interior and buy up cheap properties.sa国际传媒�

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Paula said there should be more affordable housing built in B.C.sa国际传媒檚 Interior. Itsa国际传媒檚 her view that homeless encampments in places like Vancouver get attention and government resources, while the lack of affordable housing in the South Cariboo is largely ignored.

sa国际传媒淚 donsa国际传媒檛 think they care past Boston Bar about what does go on,sa国际传媒� Paula said. sa国际传媒淚sa国际传媒檇 like them to build more low-income housing, or homes for pensioners, but I know thatsa国际传媒檚 not going to all happen by the end of the month.sa国际传媒�

The last time rental units were constructed in 100 Mile House was in 2010 when B.C Housing built housing on Aspen Street near Pioneer Haven.

100 Mile District Mayor Mitch Campsall agreed there is a need for all levels of housing in the community.

He said he is in talks with the province to get more affordable housing built in 100 Mile, while also working with several companies to promote housing development in the community.

sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檒l work with them and speed up everything we can to get them done,sa国际传媒� Campsall said. sa国际传媒淚 know that staff, council and myself are working every angle we can to get housing.sa国际传媒�

Joanne Doddridge, the districtsa国际传媒檚 director of economic development and planning, agreed there is an sa国际传媒渆xtremely limitedsa国际传媒� availability of housing, especially rental units. The district is working on a housing needs assessment in partnership with the Cariboo Regional District. Itsa国际传媒檚 now in the final draft stages.

sa国际传媒淚t will not only give us the data on housing in town and in the South Cariboo, but also some analysis of the current and future housing situation, as well as recommendations for addressing some of the areasa国际传媒檚 housing challenges,sa国际传媒� Doddridge said.

B.C. Housing said providing housing for homeless people and those without stable housing is a top priority.

They have secured 10 rooms funded through the Provincesa国际传媒檚 COVID-19 Action Plan to provide spaces for the vulnerable to shelter. They have also recently purchased and refurbished 33 affordable rental units at 440 Cedar Avenue.

sa国际传媒淏ecause many people without stable housing in 100 Mile House often move between short-term stays indoors and sheltering on the streets, it is difficult to provide an estimate of the number of people experiencing homelessness in the community,sa国际传媒� B.C. Housing said.

100 Mile House doesnsa国际传媒檛 currently have a homeless shelter, but Campsall said the district is working with the province and the Cariboo Family Enrichment Centre to establish one. 100 Mile doesnsa国际传媒檛 have the funds or capability to do it on its own, he added.

sa国际传媒淲e will work with the province to secure any type of housing we can,sa国际传媒� Campsall said.

Jensen noted that even if there was housing available, it would likely be double what Brondijk and Paula were paying.

sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 so disheartening,sa国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淧eople phone us and want help and we have no good news for them.sa国际传媒�

patrick.davies@100milefreepress.net
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