quotes gathered in a March 2021 housing survey of 70 members of our community
- our housing precariousness is alarming:
"My fear of homelessness remains."
"I currently don't have any income, have tried to apply for OW and ODSP and been declined/faced barriers to applying, and don't have any savings left to pay rent. Living with low-income friends but that won't last forever. Likely facing homelessness soon if I can't find work or other income.”
"Rent goes up each year. I get my income from ODSP which does not. If it continues I'll be back to before I was on ODSP with deep debt and afraid of becoming homeless."
- our housing precariousness is compromising food security:
"If i lived in RGI, I might be able to afford to not have to rely on food bank and might actually not live in fear of being able to survive each month."
"If i lived in RGI I could afford food, which would improve my health, and I'd have a bit of stability so I could participate more fully in society instead of being in constant survival mode. Surviving is a full time job! Survival mode keeps one in constant panic, it decreases mental health, causes many health issues I would otherwise not have. Survival mode causes irreparable damage to otherwise healthy people. Health issues cost us all. Increased buildings with RGI would make for a much healthier society."
"If i were offered an RGI unit, yes! I would be extremely relieved, I would have more monies for proper nutrition and therefor my mobility and mental health would improve dramatically!!!"
"Having affordable housing would allow me to afford things which are essential to my well-being as such supplements and foods I ought to be eating. I would imagine this would help in reducing the nightmares I have from time to time surrounding traumatic housing events, which would in turn influence more balanced mood and energy levels."
"I pay market rent while on ODSP. I have just over $300 left of my cheque after rent."
- our housing precariousness is health deteriorating:
"Part of my breakdowns are housing stress. if i lose my mind, i will lose everything. Having the ability to have a housing situation i could afford would give me peace of mind.""
"I am making my illnesses worse using everything I have to work in order to have a home and stay alive. I'm surviving but barely."
"One of my main stressors is housing. I have moved almost yearly due to renovictions, not being able to afford rent, losing my job and being underemployed for so long."
"I've been paying 75%-85% of my income each month on rent, for the past 30 years, whether I was employed full-time (often with freelance or P/T jobs as well), and since I've been receiving ODSP (17 years). This means I have about $180 leftover to pay for phone, gas (utility), groceries and other necessities each month. I ride my bike instead of using transit to save money. I prefer cycling, even though it's painful, due to nerve damage in both hands."
"I have been paying 75% of my ODSP income to housing costs just to live in an unsafe shared house with 6 other people. It is insanity and the fact stress makes my conditions worse is just a catch 22."
"I need to be in Toronto because i have access to medical treatments not available in smaller cities. i'm a quiet responsible tenant and have always paid my rent on time, yet i'm at risk for homelessness. it's not ok. the constant stress has caused my already bad health to decline further."
- our housing precariousness is ethically concerning for half of those of us who have (had) experience of supportive housing:
"Negative Points about supportive housing:
1 Poor Security. Somebody stole my Passport Permanent Resident card Health Card and other valuable documents.
2 Rooming housing authority had the power and means to put the inmates to the hospital anyways even without having proper grounds and symptoms
3 It did not provide the service meant to be by the city but overall it was more and more a business."
"City of Toronto, please investigate and punish the corrupt and abusive nonprofits eating up cash and not providing supportive services."
"Being able to live by myself or at least choose the people I live with would alleviate a lot of issues I have with my current housing situation. With supportive housing, you're just placed into a room with no prior knowledge of your housemates and now have to deal with them for better or worse. I've had some great house mates from supportive housing but I've also lived with some very difficult individuals who made what was supposed to be a home, into a nightmare."
"14 plus in a rooming house, An unsafe place I could not espouse: One bathroom, partitioned rooms overnight, A scary place with no respite. But supportive housing triggering, quite. Rules reminded me of being in prison, So moving had to be my decision. Uppermost in my mind's debate: How to pay rent and still create. Seeking safety in my most vulnerable state..."