Man’s Situation Highlights Need For More Affordable Housing in Region Where More Than 100 People Are Considered “Homeless”
KAWARTHA LAKES-A City of Kawartha Lakes man says his frustration level is through the roof as both he and his father have been unable to find stable, affordable housing in the area. Alan Walsh said he and his father have been living out of a tent trailer for more than three weeks now after he was forced to move from his apartment in Lindsay due to the sale of the building. He said he and his father have been essentially homeless since the beginning of June. Walsh added it has been his experience that landlords have jacked rents since we started coming out of the Covid-19 global pandemic.
“Where I was living was sold and the new owner is doing construction work in the building. They evicted everyone who was living at that address. There were about six of us who found ourselves homeless. They bought out our leases for about $3,500, wished us luck and told us they hoped we could find a place to live,” Walsh said. “It is so hard to find an affordable place in Lindsay to live. In the meantime, we’ve been looking for spots to park our pop-up trailer.”
Walsh said they spent the weekend in the camper at Balsam Lake Provincial Park. But he added they were going to have to vacate the site at the beginning of the week because their campsite had been previously booked by someone else. He added that moving from campsite to campsite is not a viable solution to his homeless problem and that camping can be relatively expensive.
Walsh said that municipal regulations in the City Of Kawartha Lakes are also working against them.
“Under the city bylaws you cannot park a pop-up trailer in any driveway or backyard for purposes of living in. We have relatives in Lindsay who would let us park the trailer in either their driveway or their backyard and live in it but the bylaw won’t allow it,” Walsh said. “We’ve been going to trailer parks and campgrounds since this all started at the beginning of June. At this point, we do not even know where we are staying tonight. That’s what we are dealing with on a daily basis right now.”
Walsh who says he is 45-years-old and is unable to work due to a medical condition. His dad is 67.
He said he feels stronger than ever that all levels of government need to be proactive when it comes to providing more affordable housing to Canadians, not just here at home, but throughout the Kawarthas, across the province and indeed around the country.
“Locally, Lindsay council and MP Laurie Scott needs to do more, specifically for the homeless population in the City of Kawartha Lakes. It’s a real challenge and not having a roof over your head can play with peoples’ minds and their mental health. I myself already have a disability and am on ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program) and this just adds to the stress of all that,” Walsh said.
The City states that 104 people in Kawartha Lakes are experiencing homelessness and there is a 10-year wait list for affordable housing. Walsh says he is now on that list but simply can’t afford to wait a decade to find a suitable place to live.
Kawartha 411 reached out to the City of Kawartha Lakes for responses and possible solutions to Walsh’s desperate situation.
Aaron Sloan, manager, Municipal Law Enforcement, stated in an email that Walsh is indeed correct – you can’t use a trailer as a primary residence even if it keeps someone from being homeless.
“A trailer is not permitted for residential property use according to the zoning regulations and trailers are not designed for continuous occupation. This touches on a number of concerns starting with the manufacturer and trailer specifications, as well as a number of regulations including fire prevention, health and municipal by-laws,” Sloan stated. “Even a licensed municipal trailer park will not permit occupancy of a trailer 365 days a year, because trailers are seasonal and not designed for full-time occupancy year-round.”
Michelle Corley, housing manager for the city, stated the municipality cannot help Walsh when it comes to affordable rent, but she does acknowledge a significant hike in rents.
“The City has no control over private rental costs, nor does the province of Ontario have any rent controls in place for increases on vacant units. Since 2018, rents have risen 30-39 per cent depending on the size of the unit,” Corley stated in an email. “The cause of homelessness is complex and multifaceted, and much like other communities across the province, we are also seeing an increase in homelessness. Currently there are 104 individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Kawartha Lakes, including those in the shelter, couch surfing, provisionally accommodated and unsheltered. The Human Services Office can assist low income households with first and last months’ rent once they find a new rental. We also create a weekly rental listing that includes all advertised rentals in the community.”
Meanwhile, Walsh agreed that it is better to be homeless in the summer than winter but also said it would be nice to have a place to call home, inside, out of this oppressive heat.
Editor’s Note: Kawartha 411 learned after this story was published that Alan Walsh is the same Alan Walsh who was convicted in 2015 of planting a homemade pipe bomb behind a Lindsay restaurant in 2013. That clearly does not mean that he couldn’t be suffering from homelessness. We stand by our story. But in the interest of transparency, Kawartha 411 felt that Walsh’s serious criminal conviction and possible mental health issues should be added to the story for context.
