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Women put at risk by housing shortages

°­±ð±ô´Ç·É²Ô²¹Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s affordable housing shortage is putting at-risk women in an even more precarious position.
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A construction boom is one reason for 2016 having been a positive economic year for the Thompson Okanagan region.

In today's Capital News, on how the path to homelessness is a slippery slope of one small change after another. Here we speak with a women's advocacy worker on the challenges women in precarious personal positions are facing.

°­±ð±ô´Ç·É²Ô²¹Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s affordable housing shortage is putting at-risk women in an even more precarious position.

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥Àá²Ô my opinion it forces women to stay in situations that are potentially »å²¹²Ô²µ±ð°ù´Ç³Ü²õ,Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥ said Jessica Haefner, with the Elizabeth Fry Society. Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥Àá´Ú ³Ù³ó±ð²âÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™r±ð trying to leave an abusive situation, more often than not ¾±³ÙÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s easier to stay because ¾±³ÙÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s so overwhelming to look at all the things they are going to be faced with if they ±ô±ð²¹±¹±ð.Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥

Those things include a rental rate ³Ù³ó²¹³ÙÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s 0.3 per cent, with an average rental fee for a one bedroom somewhere in the $1,000 a month range.

If a woman has children, finding a home with more than one bedroom is even more difficult and more expensive.

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥Àá³ÙÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s barrier after barrier for a lot of ·É´Ç³¾±ð²Ô,Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥ Haefner said.

Many women she deals with who do make the leap out of a dangerous situation end up couch surfing for awhile or, at times, they find refuge in ·É´Ç³¾±ð²ÔÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s shelters, which are oftentimes at peak capacity.

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥œT³ó±ð°ù±ðÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s not a lot of places for women to ²µ´Ç,Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥ she said.

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥ÀáÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™v±ð only been in this position for a year and ¾±³ÙÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s been eye-opening. You »å´Ç²ÔÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™t realize it until you are a person trying to find housing or, trying to help someone find ³ó´Ç³Ü²õ¾±²Ô²µ.Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥

There are some government programs available to alleviate the burden on women in need, such as a BC Housing rental supplement and Income Assistance.

These, however, require filling out lots of paperwork, which is particularly onerous for women who are trying to flee an abusive relationship.

Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥Àá³ÙÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™s not a fast ±è°ù´Ç³¦±ð²õ²õ,Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥ said Haefner. Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥œF´Ç°ù women who are trying to leave an abusive relationship, housing is the No. 1 issue. Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥˜W³ó±ð°ù±ð am I going to go, how will I afford to be there? When they ³¦²¹²ÔÏ㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥™t answer these questions, many times women will go back to an abusive ²õ¾±³Ù³Ü²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô.Ï㽶ÊÓƵֱ²¥

 





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