Students at the University of Victoria (UVic) are increasingly leaving the core communities of Greater Victoria, if not leaving the region entirely, because of high housing costs, says a student leader.

B次元官网网址淲ith the vacancy rate being so low right and [rents] becoming more unaffordable as each year passes, students are having a hard time finding places to live B次元官网网址� place that are close [to campus] and also affordable,B次元官网网址� says Anmol Swaich, director of campaigns and community relations with the University of Victoria StudentsB次元官网网址� Society.

Students, in other words, face a choice between distance and cost and it appears that a growing number of them would rather commute to campus from further away, if they can save rent.

B次元官网网址淵ou can may be find a place in Colwood or View Royal, where you can may be afforded,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淏ut if you are a full-time student, who is may be working a part time, it is completely unreasonable to ask them to commute that far every day, especially with our transit system.B次元官网网址�

While reliable statistics are not available, several thousand UVic students find themselves competing against each other, students from other institutions and non-students in the Greater Victoria housing market, says Swaich.

Student leaders warned last year that this phenomenon threatens to as students and non-students compete for the same shrinking supply of housing.

The regional consistently hovers around 0.5 per cent. The average rent for a one-bed room apartment in Victoria approaches, if it has not already exceeded $1,000 per month. Many landlords are charging well above this figure, as Victoria ranks among the most unaffordable communities in Canada, with rents pointing in only one direction: up.

Swaich has seen this phenomenon first hand. B次元官网网址淲hen I was looking for housing last summer, it was two-bedroom suites for about $1,400 to $1,500,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淭his summer, itB次元官网网址檚 about $1,800 to $1,900 [for a two-bedroom suite near campus].B次元官网网址�

Held up against the cost of tuition B次元官网网址� according to Statistics Canada, average Canadian undergraduates pay $6,373 in tuition fees for the 2016/2017 academic year, a figure 2.8 per cent higher than in 2015/2016 B次元官网网址� and other expenses, the rising cost of housing has forced many students to make less than ideal housing choices.

B次元官网网址淚 have heard of students sharing rooms, or turning living rooms into extra bedrooms [or] living in places with lower standards,B次元官网网址� says Swaich.

A Camosun student earlier this year made regional headlines by revealing that he had been sleeping in his vehicle while attending classes.

Worse, it often takes students considerable energy and effort to find housing. Searches in some cases

Others meanwhile are changing their plans, with some actually leaving Victoria. B次元官网网址淢y roommate, who lived with me last year, actually decided to transfer to Capilano University, so that she could stay at home,B次元官网网址� says Swaich.

So what is be done? Students leaders at local post-secondary institutions such as and Camosun College have previously called on the provincial government to build more on-campus housing.

Swaich reiterated this demand by calling on the provincial government to lift the debt restrictions on universities. Such a move would allow universities to borrow money for student housing, thereby easing the pressure on students to compete in the local rental market, whose rules actually do not favour students.

Most landlords require one-year leases, says Swaich. But that might not work for students, who only attend campus for eight months, she adds.

Swaich encourages students not to give up in their search for housing. They can also make a difference for themselves and non-student renters by mobilizing.

B次元官网网址淐all your local MLAs,B次元官网网址� she says. B次元官网网址淭ell them that you want those debt restrictions lifted, so universities can start building more on-campus housing. The university is also on board with that. They are ready to build.B次元官网网址�

Earlier this year, UVic announced plans to increase the , albeit not on the main campus, but rather in downtown Victoria. While Coun. Judy Brownoff has praised this initiative, she also warned against high expectations.