Graduate students report on housing survey results at town hall

Graduate students in the MA environmental policy and PhD Transdisciplinary Sustainability programs presented research findings to service providers and community representatives at a town hall last week.

Landlords, tenants and service providers in the Corner Brook-Bay of Islands-Deer Lake-Bay of Islands area were invited to attend a community update about data collected so far through the collaborative project, "Quantifying Housing Needs in Western Newfoundland." The project involved a tenant survey, landlord survey, and a service-based count.

The Community Mental Health Initiative, Grenfell Campus, Building Resilience: Community Engaged Research Lab and the members of the Community Coalition on Housing & Homelessness are partnering on the project, with funding in part from the Government of Canada through Reaching Home: Canada's Homelessness Strategy.

The research aims to quantify and describe present rental housing availability, as well as determine the number and type of homeless persons, including the hidden homeless, in the Corner Brook, Deer Lake and Bay of Islands area.

"The research will help members of the CCHH identify gaps and make informed decisions when it comes to developing housing support programs, advocating for policy changes, and accessing funding for new housing support initiatives. Understanding the housing needs from a tenant's perspective with respect to affordability, quality and sense of security is needed to achieve the goal," said Jade Kearley, interagency co-ordinator with the Community Mental Health Initiative.

Grenfell graduate students Amanda Affram, Rasheed Ature, and Genevieve Blankson presented the research, which demonstrated several trends.

Ninety-two people have answered the survey, so far. Preliminary results found that the Corner Brook-Bay of Islands-Deer Lake area typically see rental units vacant for a month or less in a year, and that while base rental fees may seem somewhat reasonable, the addition of utilities on top of rent seems to make units unaffordable for many. The average cost of rent was $689 per month, with 76% of tenants paying for utilities on top of that (an additional $149 per month, on average).

Rental quality was generally reported to be good, though some tenants felt unsafe in their rental unit (9% felt unsafe in their unit during the day, and 14% at night). Accessibility of units could also be improved for those with disabilities or who were aging (64% of units were not wheelchair accessible, according to the landlord survey).

Service providers who completed surveys reported that homelessness in the region ranged from outdoor living, to residing in shelters, to living with friends and relatives. The majority of clients captured in the service-based count were provisionally accommodated, living in transitional housing or with family and friends (63%).

The study is ongoing, with the survey open to new participants through December. In particular, researchers are interested in hearing from individuals on the north and south shores of the Bay of Islands. To participate in survey or for more information, please contact Leanna Butters, lbutters@grenfell.mun.ca or visit www.housingresearchnl.com.

Learn more:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/newfoundland-labrador/corner-brook-housing-1.6270759
http://ntv.ca/two-groups-study-extent-of-homelessness-in-western-newfoundland/