You know, it’s hard not to laugh… or maybe cry when you hear folks on TV yammering about the so-called “housing crisis.” Sure, the lack of available homes is a real problem, but let’s call a spade a spade here. The bigger issue is the absolutely insane rental prices. And what’s driving those prices sky-high? Well, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that mass immigration into our little corner of BC is fueling demand. Landlords are having a field day, jacking up rents simply because they can. It’s basic supply and demand at work, but with a twist that’s leaving the rest of us, especially seniors on fixed incomes, out in the cold.
Take the Beverly Arms Apartments right here in town. Just over 5 years ago, you could rent a one-bedroom unit for $750 a month. Now? The same place is going for $1,350. That means today’s rent is nearly 180% of what it used to be. Meanwhile, my Old Age Pension hasn’t increased even a fraction of that amount. So, you tell me, how are we supposed to keep up? Do we cut back on groceries? Turn the heat down to freezing in January? What’s left to give up?
And it’s not just seniors like me feeling the squeeze. Young families, working folks, everyone’s being pinched. The local government and all their high-minded politicians love to talk about “affordable housing solutions,” but when rents are nearly doubling overnight, where’s the action? Maybe instead of patting themselves on the back for approving another overpriced condo development, they ought to think about the folks who are just trying to stay in the homes they’ve got.
I’ll tell you what’s really frustrating: we’ve got these people running for office, promising the moon, but when push comes to shove, none of them have a plan to rein in this madness. You can’t keep letting landlords hold tenants hostage while pretending that everything’s peachy. It’s about time someone stood up and asked: what are we supposed to do? Do we have to become a charity case to get a roof over our heads?
Here’s a challenge for all the candidates who’ll be knocking on our doors come election time: How about you spend a month living on a fixed income and paying these new “market” rents? I bet you wouldn’t last a week.
So, to anyone who wants my vote this time around: don’t bother talking about “building more houses” unless you’re also planning to do something about the runaway rent hikes. Until then, it’s all just hot air.
J. Thomas
