I told
someone that this is the hardest thing I have ever done. Upon reflection I
realized I was wrong, but it is in the top 5. Finding affordable housing for a
family of 7 is almost impossible in Oakville and Mississauga.
The government’s
recommendations for the budget for housing might work in Bancroft, or Timmins
or Windsor, but you cannot house this family on $1300 per month. When we have
found 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartments or townhouses we have been turned down
(4 times) because the family is “too large”. At one townhouse complex I was
told by the property manager that they would not rent to refugees. (I will be
dealing with that later!)
We started the search with a criteria list that
included things like price, location, on public transit, near a halal butcher,
near a food bank etc.. Now most of that has gone out the window. We realize a
compromise is necessary.
While the family is now
comfortably ensconced in the home of my generous co-chair this is not workable
in the long term. Our family wants to start their own life here in earnest and
they are keenly aware of their imposition on their host family. My co-chair is
delighted to have them but a 2 or 3 month period was not what she anticipated.
I think we have a solution – due to a generous corporation. We will see how
that works out and I will tell you more about that when (I must be optimistic)
it happens.