Kieris OB次元官网网址橬eill is staring homelessness in the face.

As governments try and address a near-zero vacancy rate and property prices that are seeing rental costs soar, the Maple Ridge disabled senior simply cannot find a new place to live, even though she can afford to pay $1,200 to $1,300 per month.

B次元官网网址淚 have leads, but I have been tracking for two and a half monthsB次元官网网址� and it is just absolutely horrendous out there,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e been in a fit for weeks.B次元官网网址�

ItB次元官网网址檚 ironic, because she used to help seniors find places to live. OB次元官网网址橬eill was a volunteer for Ridge Meadows Community Services with the Seniors Connect program, which is about seniors helping seniors.

OB次元官网网址橬eill received notice on March 9 that her landlord would be closing his 230th Street basement suite. It needs extensive renovations to be considered a legal suite by city hall, she told her tenant, including fire barriers, fans and the fact that it is larger than the city permits secondary suites to be. She has to be out by the end of May.

With no place to go, OB次元官网网址橬eill is going to ask council to allow a tenantsB次元官网网址� amnesty B次元官网网址� basically saying city hall wonB次元官网网址檛 enforce its secondary suites bylaws until tenants have someplace to go.

B次元官网网址淭he city turns a blind eye to senior rentals and low income people,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淭here never has been enough (apartments), but it has gotten far too low.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淚 always have difficulty finding a place to live because I am in a wheelchair and wheelchair accessible accommodation is hard to find,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淚n 2016 I was turned down nine times because of my chair. How do I know? because I asked prospective landlords what the problem was.B次元官网网址�

Finding housing is hard for everyone.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation reported in October 2017 the vacancy rate in Maple Ridge was 0.6 per cent. It reported the vacancy rate for the entire Metro area was less than one per cent, and the average rent was up 5.9 per cent to almost $1,300. CMHC reported that the high cost of home ownership in the region is putting strong upward pressure on rents.

OB次元官网网址橬eill has lived in Maple Ridge for 50 years, early in her career working as a labratory technician at Ridge Meadows Hospital. She went back to university for more education, then worked as a researched at St. PaulB次元官网网址檚 and Vancouver General Hospitals. She ended her working life working in partnership with her husband in real estate.

B次元官网网址淚 really donB次元官网网址檛 want to leave. I will if I have to,B次元官网网址� she said.

She has been looking everywhere, including Vancouver Housing, B.C. Building Coop , Legion and Lee towers and many different apartment complexes, and private basement suites.B次元官网网址�

She acknowledges that the province is trying to catch up with the problem, with proposed new affordable rental housing at 21375 Lougheed Highway B次元官网网址� new homes for low-income families and seniors.

Community Services also has a complex of of affordable rental housing in the works on 228th Street. Construction could start this summer.

B次元官网网址淚f you turn the first shovel tomorrow we wonB次元官网网址檛 be in it for two years,B次元官网网址� she lamented.

She is still looking, but is approachign a dire situation.

B次元官网网址淭here is absolutely nothing I can afford on my pension, and so on the 31st of May, unless my luck changes, I will be homeless,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淣ot something I would expect to happen to a 79-year-old disabled person in a wheelchair.B次元官网网址�

OB次元官网网址橬eill said she has reached out to some friends, and may be able to impose on their hospitality for a week at a time. If not, she isnB次元官网网址檛 sure what to do.

B次元官网网址淚 really wish I knew.

B次元官网网址淚 know one thing B次元官网网址� IB次元官网网址檓 scared stiff.B次元官网网址�