Doctors have given Falco Koehler just months to live.
But where the Langford resident and terminal brain cancer patient will die is anyoneB次元官网网址檚 guess.
It may not be at his current place of residence near the Trans-Canada Highway, where he lives with his daughter, Louise Newie, and partner Jacqueline Newie.
This spring the family was informed by their landlord that she intends to sell the house, and if the new owner intends to live in the two-bedroom home, theyB次元官网网址檒l have to move.
If thatB次元官网网址檚 the case the family isnB次元官网网址檛 sure where theyB次元官网网址檒l go and will find themselves entering one of the in Canada.
Their budget is stretched thin B次元官网网址� KoehlerB次元官网网址檚 condition means he is unable to work and Jacqueline has recently taken on a third job to support the family B次元官网网址� and they havenB次元官网网址檛 been able to find a two bedroom place thatB次元官网网址檚 close to the $1,200 a month they currently pay, which includes utilities.
B次元官网网址淲e barely make it and thereB次元官网网址檚 nothing to rent for us,B次元官网网址� Koehler said.
Jacqueline said she has been looking for places every day but to no avail.
The owner of the house, Rachel Olsen, grew up in the home and inherited it B次元官网网址� and an outstanding mortgage B次元官网网址� when her uncle died last year (despite it being owned by the family for decades, her uncle had more recently purchased it from another family memberB次元官网网址檚 estate).
She says sheB次元官网网址檚 heartbroken to have to sell the home, both because it holds fond memories for her and because of the situation her tenants find themselves in, but that she simply has no choice.
Olsen estimates that she loses roughly $600 a month when factoring in both the mortgage and utlities and her family is stressed financially as well, as her husband has had to take a leave from work.
B次元官网网址淭he house has been in my family for 43 years, it kills me to have to sell it,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚 feel for them, I honestly do. IB次元官网网址檓 sick having to make the decision.B次元官网网址�
Olsen, who knew Jacqueline prior to her moving in, says that the reason she set the rent at $1,200 is because she knew thatB次元官网网址檚 what the family could afford. The median rent for a two-bedroom unit in Victoria is $1,400 according to PadMapper and the region continues to experience low vacancy rates.
Further complicating matters for the family is KoehlerB次元官网网址檚 health.
The 41 year-old worked in carpentry until April of last year when he was laid off.
B次元官网网址淚 wasnB次元官网网址檛 able to do my job but I didnB次元官网网址檛 know why,B次元官网网址� he recalled. B次元官网网址淚 went to the doctor around the middle of April because I had double vision and headaches and neck pains. I didnB次元官网网址檛 know what was going on with me. I was guessing I had migraines or diabetes B次元官网网址� Who counts on something like this?B次元官网网址�
The family also has two dogs, giving them even less options when it comes to rental housing. With such high demand for affordable places in the region, landlords often have their choice of tenants and many opt for ones without dogs or cats.
B次元官网网址淚 donB次元官网网址檛 know what to do anymore,B次元官网网址� Jacqueline said. B次元官网网址淚 hope that someone will see this and maybe someone will have something for us to rent because IB次元官网网址檓 completely stressed out.B次元官网网址�
For her part, Olsen said the family have been good tenants.
B次元官网网址淚f [the new owners] are going to keep a tenant, keep her. She pays her rent. SheB次元官网网址檚 a good tenant,B次元官网网址� she said.
