Tristan Rittaler
The reality many students face is a serious lack of affordable housing and the likelihood they will end up in overpriced, smaller rentals – if they’re lucky. “I think it will have to cool down, especially because the price of housing is just so inflated on the Island,” said Dorian Settle, a Grade 11 Chemainus Secondary student.
A quick Google search bears that out. The average one-bedroom apartment rents for a whopping $1,600 per month, nearly twice what it would cost the average person in 2014. With prices that high, many senior students are worried about their futures.
“It’s probably still going to be a problem unless they build a lot of houses, fast,” said Isabella Price.
But the problem is more complicated than that. A record 47,607 housing starts were made in 2021, the most the province has seen this century. But that hasn’t impacted the cost of rentals.
“The general view is the market has turned from looking at housing as providing places for people to live, to more getting a profit from the investment you made,” said Cowichan-Malahat-Langford MP Alistair MacGregor.
“In that kind of a model, there is a continued interest in seeing prices continue to go up.”
This mindset has given rise to investment strategies that sacrifice affordable housing for continued financial growth.
This inflationary cycle hits post-secondary students hard, pushing them physically further from university campuses in search of affordable housing.
“Increased cost drives people away from university, they’re looking for accommodation further north than ever before,” said Michael Witcomb, the off-campus housing coordinator for Vancouver Island University.
That’s affecting their performance. “A couple of times this semester at least, their case had been flagged by their instructor who’s said, ‘This student’s work is really, really suffering, they’re missing a lot of classes,’ and talking to them, it’s pretty obvious that their accommodation is the root cause.”
Governments on all levels are ramping up their efforts in hopes that students, and the general populace, will have access to better, more affordable housing. But some say it’s too little, too late. And it’s certainly too late for the Class of 2023.
With a harsh outlook, and no solve-all solutions in sight, experts are advising students what they can do to improve the odds. First, research the area where you want to live. Make sure to account for your physical needs, transportation and budget. Be sure to check for possible problems with units you’re considering, like asbestos, flooding, or infestation.
Check to see if you have family living in the area where you are planning to attend post-secondary school or work. Reaching out to possible roommates is another option. Check what resources are available on campus. VIU, for instance, has departments and experts dedicated to helping students find off-campus housing.
Think of applying for rentals as if you were applying for a job. Landlords often have a pool of prospects to pick from, meaning they can be choosy. Create a cover letter that demonstrates your reliability; be on time for any meetings; wear your good character on your sleeve; provide references.
Finding a place to live probably won’t be easy, but for students heading out into the post-secondary world, it’s essential to make the best of a tough situation.
(Tristan Rittaler graduates from Chemainus Secondary School in June, and has been accepted into the journalism program at Vancouver Island University. He chose to do this article as his Capstone graduation project).
