My family had to give notice at the place we currently rent because by the next rent increase, it would have been way over our new budget. The max shelter rate for our family of 4 is 702...our current rent 846 plus hydro. (shelter rates on OW include the hydro and insurance so if your rent takes the max, the rest is not covered). Our rent would have gone up in January, probably by 20 dollars "give or take" and we would have been unable to do much because our food costs would have been seriously impacted.
I am on a deferral, for those who don't know what that means, it means that since I am considered unable to look for work due to disability (disability that doesn't seem to qualify for ODSP) I am forced to stay at home. No bus fare is given for doctor appointments, nor for their regular "check in" meetings downtown. So we tried looking for apartments in our city core and the surrounding area. Imagine our surprise when we discovered that we can't afford even a 2 bedroom because most run at 800-850 plus hydro. Oh and even better, since we are on Ontario Works, no one wants to trust we can pay the rent. For the last 4 years of Ontario Works and then NO assistance while my husband attended school, we managed to make sure our rent at this place was always paid first. Our bills also always got paid on time. I feel insulted that people think we can't actually pay our rent. One said "are you sure you can afford this place" another went so far as to demand that it be automatically paid by Ontario Works.
Another problem is trying to get someone with a 2 bedroom to take my family as is, 4 of us. We got rid of 90% of our things, my husband and I were using the living room as a bedroom here when my three kids were with us, but suddenly we can't do that. 3 bedrooms are way over priced, and the only other option we could consider is splitting our family into two groups of two and looking for a 1 bedroom for each, which is marginally affordable unless one of the two leaves and the other is left holding the "bag". Of course suggesting that two siblings share a 1 bed elicits the same responses of disbelief, even when we tried a small 1 bed or bachelor some would say "SINGLE PEOPLE ONLY" as if a married couple could not share such a small home.
A lot of the "marginally" affordable places either looked to be in poor repair when we went to see them, turned out to have hydro heat to pay as well as hydro (something that would push the rent from that wonderful 750 to over 850 even with us being frugal with hydro. One place even wanted us to pay hydro, hydro heat and rental for a hot water heater. It would have pushed the beautiful 667 rent up past our budget point by a considerable margin.
Then we found a place at 815 inclusive and applied. Of course with big property management firms you MUST put down a deposit just to apply and see if they would consider you, so we did. We didn't realize that they would KEEP our deposit should we refuse the apartment. I thought when we applied I'd be able to handle stairs, but I could barely handle one set and then we cancelled with the company back in July around the 25th, we figured it would give them a month and a half to rent the unit for Sept 1. They said too bad, even if I can't use the stairs they would KEEP the money. We have enough for one more try, and we are fighting to get our deposit back, but this supposedly legit practice of retaining a deposit because someone had to refuse the apartment is the most disgraceful thing of all. It can trap a person into a place they might not be able to handle. I was devastated at first when I heard that, I thought I'd have to trudge up THREE FLIGHTS of stairs in order to get in and to leave and go back. I pictured myself closer to the center of the city and yet still trapped in the "box" because of my disability. I was afraid I could also potentially fall down the stairs if I lost my balance or my knee suddenly gave out on me.
We might have to fight for our deposit in court, but that involves a 45 dollar fee that we only get back if we win. It is frustrating because their "counter offer to us" was a place WAY OUT on the outskirts of the city. My doctor is downtown, I have no bus fare unless I take the money from the food budget, so then what I just stay stuck in another box this time in the middle of nowhere??
I just wish that potential landlords would see us as PEOPLE not as a welfare income. I wish that the rental rates were not SO HIGH that it squeezed us out of anything or forced our family apart.
We are still looking, our deadline is Aug 31st, our current landlord wants us out so they can do a 24hr turnaround on the apartment. (new carpet etc) before the Sept 1 move in date. If we don't find a place soon, (which may be a dive at this rate) we won't have a home at all. I've never been homeless before and the thought of it scares me beyond all reason. I'm slightly agoraphobic thanks to my constant confinement in the current place and the thought of having to share my space with strangers stresses me completely.
It seems like there is nothing for us, and I may be forced to push my two kids out on their own when they aren't really ready, just so we can get enough money to afford a place. Oh and if one of my kids leaves for school (like he is planning) then my other child will be stuck in a place that will suddenly become unaffordable. We tried hunting for room mates for the future but with NO real success. Why does a family have to divide in order to live?
