Rent goes through the roof as workers struggle to afford housing in Perth-Huron

Emily and Victoria share their stories of economic struggle in the “Workers Need Housing” video series released by the United Way Perth-Huron.

Workers in the region are being suffocated out of the rental market, with new videos from United Way Perth-Huron (UWPH) providing a glance at the skyrocketing rents and evictions that are making it nearly impossible for residents to find affordable housing. 

The United Way have recently released the “Workers Need Housing” videos that showcase two local workers struggling to afford their rent due to the economic costs. Emily and Victoria of Perth and Huron counties share their stories about financial stress they face. 

“We really wanted to zero in on the fact that the people featured in our videos are workers. Take Emily, she’s an educated professional earning a good salary, but when she was evicted, her next rental cost over $1,000 more a month,” said Will Wellington, social research and planning manager at UWPH. “Then there’s Victoria in Huron County, who works seven days a week, doing everything she can to make ends meet. Yet, she and her husband are paying more than half their income for a one-bedroom tiny apartment.”

Wellington continued by saying that there is a basic understanding in our society that if someone works hard, they should be able to afford a place to live, which is a core component of the social contract in North America. Wellington adds that the housing crisis is shaking the foundation of working hard and affording necessities based on income. 

The released videos were supported by the Four County Labour Market Planning Board (FCLMPB), which has produced research that shows that housing is the leading barrier to hiring across the region. Despite low unemployment in Perth-Huron, employers continue to face ongoing labour shortages in sectors like retail, hospitality and healthcare. 

“Those sectors are essential industries for our region but when you run the numbers, the wages in those fields often aren’t enough to afford housing locally,” said Wellington. “That’s why the planning board has identified housing as the top barrier to hiring. It’s holding our region back from reaching its full potential, including our ability to staff emergency rooms consistently and ensure essential services are properly supported.” 

The United Way has launched an initiative called United Housing aimed at developing new community housing projects throughout the region. The first builds are underway in North Perth, with several others currently in development. As part of the broader campaign, the organization is encouraging residents to get involved by signing the “Speak Up For Community Housing" petition available on its website. The petition calls for increased investment from both the provincial and federal governments. 

“Ultimately, investing in community housing is going to be much better for our region and save our communities more money in the long run, compared to the current situation where unfortunately more people are ending up on the streets,” said Wellington.