Students Concerned About Housing Crisis

NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Friday, September 4, 2009

Students concerned about growing housing crisis

St. Johnʼs - With the school year about to begin, many students are finding it increasingly difficult to find on-campus or affordable off-campus accommodations. In particular, students moving to St. Johnʼs and Corner Brook are finding it difficult to find apartments, due to a growing shortage of available lodgings. Unfortunately, the shortage in these communities represents just the beginning of a much bigger social challenge for Newfoundland and Labrador.

“This has become a major concern for students and their families,” said Daniel Smith, Newfoundland and Labrador Chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. “Itʼs essential we strengthen our provinceʼs safety net now to deal with the social challenges that wealth is going to place in our way.”

While the problem is most visible in Corner Brook, housing shortages are affecting students in other parts of the province as well. According to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, vacancy rates currently stand at 2.0% on average for the province – a drop of 1.2% in one year alone. Corner Brook has the lowest vacancy rate in the province at 0.4%.

Particularly affected are those who are on a fixed income – students, seniors, persons with disabilities, single parents, those burdened with student loan debts, and those employed in lowpaying sectors of the economy.

“Weʼve seen housing and apartment rental prices sky-rocket in urban areas over the past three years,” said Smith. “Itʼs critical that as our economy grows, we develop legislation and policies designed to ensure that nobody gets left behind. Affordable student and public housing strategies need to be prioritized before the problem gets completely out of control.”

Students are working with other concerned community agencies to address the problem, and recently formed an Affordable Housing Coalition in 2008, to develop strategies to present to government. Other individuals and agencies sharing concerns about accessible housing in the province are encouraged to become involved.

For further information, please contact:
Daniel Smith, Newfoundland and Labrador Chairperson
709.737.3204 (office) or 709.685.3203 (cellular)