Stratford has always been home to Dianne, who returned a few years ago after living elsewhere. She quickly seized an opportunity to expand her business by opening a shop in the downtown area. However, it wasn’t long before the housing crisis caught up with her.

Rising rents posed a significant challenge to Dianne, making it impossible to afford both her business lease and an apartment. Like many people in similar situations, Dianne made the difficult decision to move back in with her mother, a trend that’s becoming increasingly common, particularly among younger generations.

Dianne’s mother has lived in the apartment for over ten years, so rent is reasonable and stable. Now that Dianne is living with her mom, she wants to add her name to the lease in case something happens, but their landlord requires them to sign a new lease, which would almost double their rent.

New residential leases open the door to current rates, and Provincial rent controls do not apply to most new units if tenancy starts after November 15, 2018. Once again, Dianne is stuck between a rock and a hard place.

This account illustrates the instability of our housing market. It’s hard to plan for the future without a home you can afford. Deciding between keeping her store open and having a place to live is very stressful. Her mom’s home is inexpensive, but for how long?

Dianne is still looking for a place to live, but as we’ve heard many times, it isn’t easy. She constantly checks for places to live on the regular digital channels, only to confirm what she already knew: nothing is affordable. Dianne is losing hope, sharing that she can’t keep struggling like this anymore and may have to consider leaving Ontario.

Dianne believes that new builds aren’t the only solution. We need diverse housing options, including different types of apartments. We need clever solutions to relieve some pressure before the weight of the housing crisis crushes a whole generation.