Comment: Local renters can't compete with Airbnb
A commentary by a Port Renfrew local about his community, but not exclusive to it.
As long as renters are forced to compete directly with Airbnb for housing, the “housing crisis” will only get worse.
In Port Renfrew, there would not be a housing crisis if we stopped Airbnb and its like from operating in residentially zoned areas.
It is absolutely an allocation issue, as opposed to a supply issue, when one can walk through a neighbourhood in the shoulder season and not see a single home with a light on. These homes are left to sit near empty until the next flood of tourism, whilst locals are squeezed out, or into inadequate basements, trailers, vans and boats.
Community is disintegrating, and volunteers are quitting as long-time........

Toi Staff
Sabine Sterk
Gideon Levy
Mark Travers Ph.d
Waka Ikeda
Tarik Cyril Amar
Grant Arthur Gochin