All Kathie Nielsen wants is for her grandson to have his own bedroom, but after more than four years spent waiting for an affordable housing unit, Nielsen has had enough.
The New Westminster woman won custody of her grandson six years ago and since then, she’s been waiting for B.C. Housing to find her a two-bedroom apartment.
“We are living in a one-bedroom, cramped apartment,” she told the Record. “(My grandson) sleeps on a blow-up bed. He’s going to be 10 next month.”
Nielsen used to be a line cook at a local restaurant, but arthritis eventually forced her to quit. Now she supports herself and her grandson, who is in Grade 4 at Qayqayt Elementary School, on a fixed income of $880 a month, the majority of which is eaten up by rent.
As she waits for B.C. Housing to call, she’s reached out to various people and groups, including MLA Judy Darcy, Coun. Jaimie McEvoy, the Elizabeth Fry Society, the local income assistance office and disability assistance, for help.
“I even have a letter from my doctor, sent to the housing (office), saying ‘she needs out of here; she needs to get into a two-bedroom; she’s depressed; she can’t sleep at night; her grandson can’t have friends over.’ It’s just gone on and on,” she said.
Nielsen admits she wants to stay in New Westminster and that could be causing some delay. There are five affordable housing complexes and apartment buildings in New West, compared to 22 in Burnaby, according to B.C. Housing’s affordable housing listing.
The Record contacted B.C. Housing to find out why someone would be waiting more than four years for an affordable unit, and in an email, B.C. Housing said “when a unit becomes available, priority is given to those in greatest need.”
Several variables are considered when determining a person’s need, including: whether or not a person is homeless; women who have left a violent relationship; health concerns that require a specific type of unit; and stability of the applicants’ current home (this could be a family living in a shared space or a large family living in a small space).
What’s more, there’s no limit to how long someone can remain on the registry, according to B.C. Housing.
Nielsen’s patience, meanwhile, is running out. She’s considering finding a two-bedroom place by herself, but it won’t be subsidized and will likely cost more than she can afford each month, she said. And she’s not sure what would happen if she were to sign a lease at a new place and then get the call from B.C. Housing since a person is only given two offers of housing before they’re taken off the registry.
“If I was working, I would be OK. I could be able to pay for these things, but I can’t. I’m just stuck in this rut,” Nielsen said.
