A place to call home

The sight of people living on the street is something that residents of the southwest coast have to travel to larger areas to see. Homelessness isn't obvious here, but it does exist.

There are people living here who don't have a permanent place to call home, or like Maryann Keeping, one they will soon have to give up.

Then there are the people who are 'couch-surfing' at friends' and relatives' homes until they can find a place to call their own.

Often referred to as the hidden homeless, these people are left with few options in places like Port aux Basques where a tight housing market means few, if any, choices and potentially long waiting lists.

Each year, the office of this newspaper receives many calls from students and young professionals looking to move to the area who have trouble finding a place to live. They ask for a listing of places to rent and plead for any information we can give them.

'There's no place like home,' or so the saying goes.

Mostly anyone that travels for work or pleasure will admit that no matter how nice the hotel or resort was where they were staying, after a few days they can't wait to get home to their own couch, kitchen, shower and bed. It's the sense of security, peace and familiarity that can't be replicated.

There's a shortage here and it seems to be across the rental board, including seniors housing, low-income housing, family-suitable places and more.

There are few easy answers. The private sector will likely respond in time - where there is demand, supply will eventually come.

The provincial and federal governments are putting money into the creation of more affordable public sector housing in several other parts of the province. However, even if the funding fairy arrived today with money to help address the problem here, it would take time to convert or construct new dwellings.

But there's also another familiar saying: 'If you never get started, you'll never get finished.'

It's time that housing became a priority for this area.

- Natalie Musseau

editor@gulfnews.ca