I dare you to try to find any place to rent in this city for under $1,000 a month.
Landlords are capitalizing on this by jacking up the rent when their existing tenant moves out.
What is the city doing? Nothing. Where are we going to put the influx of seasonal workers that come here in the summer? What if you have a pet or kids? What if you make the pathetic minimum wage so many employers pay in this town?
We have people moving here buying up our homes for a fraction of what they sold their old home for in Vancouver. So many people retiring here but where are we going to house our children that are going to college and living on student loans? Many make minimum wage and are not eligible for EI if going to school.
What about young families who have been renting and now their place is now being sold? Where are we going to house them? Why should people have to give up their pets because there is not any places that you can rent if you have one now?
I don’t blame landlords for selling or moving into their rentals themselves that is their right, but what are we, Penticton, going to do when people start getting put out on the street when even the hotels are full this summer. Sure we have some new buildings almost ready to move in, great, would you pay $1,150 per month for 622 square foot, one bedroom, plus utilities, phone, cable, plus parking ($60) and $150 month more if you don’t sign lease and go month to month.
What happens when people cant find a place they can afford to live in? I’l tell you, they move, live on the street or commit crimes to pay the bills. None of these options is good for Penticton. I don’t have the answers but we better start finding some.
Rena Turner
Penticton