SASKATOON – More than 23,500 households in Saskatoon pay more than 30 per cent of their gross income on housing, according to Statistics Canada’s national household survey released last week.
Saskatoon Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) is an agency that works with the business and non-profit community to advocate for, and develop, affordable housing.
SHIP says the StatsCan survey is very concerning.
Get breaking National news
“There are great federal, provincial and municipal funding programs and incentives that support the development of affordable housing, but the demand is so huge that most programs are fully subscribed,” said Tyler Stewart, VP of SHIP.
“More investment from all orders of government would help create an environment where everyone has access to safe, appropriate and affordable housing.”
In a recent release, the organization says these numbers make people vulnerable to homelessness and food insecurity.
It’s an issue noticed by local Century 21 realtor Paulette Melnychuk.
“I’m working with a lot of younger people and they seem to be buying $4-500 thousand houses, and I’d say 40 per cent of their income at least is going towards their mortgage,” said Melnychuk.
Realtors in Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Warman and other areas say they’re seeing a lot of young people who are trying to start their lives but are burdened by huge debt.
Comments