LACK OF SOCIAL HOUSING IN TORONTO

For decades Toronto has suffered with a lack of social housing and low-income housing. Lately I have been talked to Social Services and landlords about the affordability of most housing in Toronto for single people. The vast majority of working single people earn below poverty wages and yet are supposed to pay rent in some cases that take 75% of their income. What are these people supposed to do? Go into a room to live, frankly even the worst rooming houses are not that cheap and you would not put a dog in their to live, so what is going to happen to these people? Are we to erect tent cities in this climate? I had a reasonable job in the corporate world which I lost in January and I live in a bachelor in an old building, without fans in the kitchen and bathroom in a relatively nice area and I was told to get a cheaper apartment. I am not going to live in a dangerous area for a woman or get a roommate I do not really know. Besides there is not enough space for two people and I have chosen to live alone as I need space to work on creative projects that require peace and quiet. Most landlords just own a building, as it is a business of course, but because of these times, why not negotiate with your good tenants who never dreamed that the global credit crunch would come. Did we do something personally to cause our layoffs? So, why are we being punished? I have been talking with many people young and old and for some young people they can move home during these times. For the vast majority, however, especially the more mature, there is no home to move back to. So, what are we all supposed to do? If I owned a building and had the vacancies I am seeing increase daily I would think about a reasonable compromise to keep those suites filled. I simply do not understand the stubborn lack of vision and mentality here. Interesting, that the landlords do not realize that we pay their salaries and it is time for them to have a conscience about society and the dilemmas facing many.