A study into the housing needs of women in poverty or fleeing violence in the Tri-Cities suggests gaps in affordable housing and gives a surprising picture of need in a community of relative wealth.
But with money for affordable housing either tight or nonexistent, solutions aren't readily available, admits Tri-Cities Homeless and Housing Task Group chair Sandy Burpee.
"There's not a lot of funding around these days that's not specifically targeted. I'm not anticipating any quick fix solutions," Burpee said.
The study paid for with a grant from Vancity Community Foundation shows the Tri-Cities' 10-bed transition house for women fleeing violence is well-used, with as many as 200 to 300 women using the shelter in a year, many with children in tow.
Another approximately 400 to 600 women are turned away from Joy's Place each year for various reasons, including lack of space. However, Tri-City Transitions executive director Carol Metz Murray has announced that a new 14-bed facility with six units of second stage housing will be available soon to address some of that need.
Still, moms on low-income are finding it increasingly difficult to stay in the Tri-Cities where their children go to school and are having to make other arrangements.
LACK OF PROGRAMMING
Bonnie Moriarty managing director with the the Elizabeth Fry Society says approximately 20 Tri-Cities women with children seek shelter each year at Elizabeth Gurney House, in New Westminster, because they and their children are in unsafe or precarious housing situations.
"They may be in New West but they want to stay in Tri-Cities where their kids are still in school. What they're looking for isn't affordable for them, they try to go back into the community, but often it's not realistic."
Sometimes families have to split up to find housing, with older children staying with friends or other family members until long waiting lists can be broached and stable housing found.
New Westminster's Elizabeth Gurney House is a shelter that provides longer-term stays for women with children needing to stabilize their housing situations, something that's not available in the Tri-Cities, Moriarty said. As well, there are resources available, such as mental health support, that isn't easily accessed in certain areas of the Tri-Cities.
"We get women with challenges around mental health, the resources aren't around. I don't want pick on the Tri-Cities but they are falling through the cracks. If you're a single women, with problems with alcohol and drugs, the programming isn't there as well," Moriarty said.
Coquitlam has Como Lake Gardens which opened in 2012 for single moms but it had a waiting list at the ground breaking, and, although the Tri-Cities has more than 1,000 units of social housing, the average wait time for a unit is more than two years.
A HIDDEN PROBLEM
Using census information, the study concluded that hundreds of women-headed households could be at-risk of homelessness. According to 2006 figures, 750 women-headed single family households in the Tri-Cities pay more than 50% of their income in rent, approximately half, or 308 families, with children under 19 years of age, get rental assistance.
But when funds are stretched or an emergency arises, things can take a turn for the worse. Although it's rare to find families on the street - most moms with children will couch surf, stay in temporary or risky housing situations to avoid being completely homeless - single women represent about 15% to 25% of the visible homeless population.
In the Tri-Cities this winter, approximately 26 women stayed in the mat shelter run by the Hope for Freedom Society, compared to 145 men.
Burpee said the affordable housing task group commissioned the study to look further into an issue that seemed to be emerging. At issue, he said, was the lack of affordable housing generally, which trickles down into homelessness, depending on the availability of shelters and resources.
He hopes redevelopment along the SkyTrain line will provide opportunities for increasing the number of affordable units, rather than decreasing them. But for now, the task group will review the study, and figure out what recommendations to make.
"it's kind of a snapshot suggesting at looking at whether there is something the task force needs to do in terms of creating new housing," Burpee said.
To see the full study, visit http://tricitieshomelessness.ca
