Rural Homelessness and a Lack of Affordable Housing

Written by Josh Smith, Community Navigator, Middlesex County Library Services

It’s no secret that Canada is currently in the midst of a homelessness and housing crisis with sky rocketing rental prices and dwindling availability. If you are looking for proof, a quick online search will show you that one or two bedroom apartments are routinely going for prices north of $1300 per month (plus utilities of course). This has led to a dramatic increase in homelessness, which is very apparent in larger urban centres such as London, where homelessness is very visible and out in the open. Less visible – at least on the surface – is the effect “hidden homelessness” is having on smaller rural communities, such as the County of Middlesex.

My name is Josh, and I work for Middlesex County Library Services as the Community Navigator. The Community Navigator pilot program is a new community support for Middlesex County. The intent of this position is to assist locals in accessing supports and programs to help them address their needs. This position has allowed me to gain a unique perspective on what homelessness looks like in a rural setting, and to research supports if/when requested. Without question, the highest need I have observed is access to housing, specifically access to affordable housing. Consider the $1300 per month price tag that I mentioned earlier, and the fact that a single and a couple receiving the maximum social assistance (basic needs and shelter) receive per month ($733 (single) and $1136 (couple) for Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program ($1169 single and couple $1750) respectively. It is easy to see why there has been such a dramatic increase in homelessness.

People simply cannot afford a place to live, particularly our more vulnerable populations. Social housing programs, such as Rent-Geared-to-Income have become so overburdened that people can sit on a wait-list for years before they are considered and offered a housing unit. I am seeing families facing homelessness for the first time in their lives, despite years of stable housing, as the cost of housing has increased beyond their means. The homeless population in Middlesex County has increased ten-fold in just a handful of years, and there are currently not enough resources to address the issue in a comprehensive way. Middlesex County has one Domestic Violence Against Women (DVAW) emergency shelter that only women and children can access. Transitional housing access is limited through CMHA, and fewer social housing units are being proposed and built in rural communities compared to the larger urban centres like London and Windsor. Middlesex County staff, and a variety of agencies and community groups, work diligently every day to support people in any way they can. I have seen how communities come together to supports each other through challenging times; however, the reality remains, if there is no access to affordable housing, this trend of increased homelessness will continue.

Now, what do I think the solution is? Definitely, more affordable housing. Simple. Simple on the surface at least, though incredibly more complex in reality. There is the issue of cost, of location, of management, of maintenance, and many other concerns that would have to be continually addressed, on a regular basis. I also believe that the “fix” for these concerns are for minds greater than my own. What I do know with almost complete certainly is that the vast majority of homelessness in Middlesex County would be solved if people simply had a place to live that they could afford and have the community supports available to encourage retention and sustainability i.e. CMHA, Addition Services, Social Services, Community Navigator, Middlesex London Health Unit etc. I work closely with the homeless population in the County, and the majority have expressed they would be able to maintain long term, stable housing – they just cannot afford anything on the market at this time.

Homelessness is a complex, multi-faceted issue, with no one-size-fits-all answer. However, the need for affordable housing is undeniable and urgent.