Homelessness, a crisis that affects about 11 per cent of Canadians in their lifetime, often begins with eviction. Once a person or family is evicted, they are set on a trajectory that can lead to chronic homelessness as they try to find affordable housing in an increasingly competitive market.

For example, consider a long-term tenant in Kitchener paying $1,300 for a two-bedroom apartment. If evicted — whether due to a landlord’s decision to move in a family member, demolish the building or sell it — the tenant will be thrust into a housing market where the average rent for a similar unit is $2,327. This steep price increase is untenable for many, especially those earning minimum wage.

The risk of eviction is not just limited to those in precarious financial situations, but can impact renters across the board. This reality highlights the urgent need for stronger tenant protections to safeguard individuals and families from being unhoused.

In the metropolitan area of Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo, for instance, there are no neighbourhoods with affordable one- or two-bedroom rentals for full-time minimum wage workers. All across Canada, the average cost of rent is increasing to untenable levels.

This situation is even more dire for seniors relying on fixed incomes, single parents and those on social assistance. For example, a single person’s maximum monthly shelter allowance through Ontario Works is $390 and is $697 for a family of three. For international students without government support, the situation is particularly bleak.

As an eviction prevention worker, my work and the work of my colleagues........

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