New student live-in plan aims to ease housing shortage

Troy Shantz Organizers hope a new program that pairs college students in need of housing with seniors who have an empty room will ease Sarnia’s housing crisis.

Troy Shantz

Organizers hope a new program that pairs college students in need of housing with seniors who have an empty room will ease Sarnia’s housing crisis.

The one-year Sarnia HomeShare pilot is designed for both international and Canadian students. In return for reduced rent of about $400 a month for a furnished room, the students do eight hours of household chores each week, said Amy Weiler, Sarnia’s age-friendly coordinator.

“I think students are really keen on the program, especially when they’re newcomers to Sarnia and newcomers to Canada. They’re looking for reliable housing.”

Sarnia Homestay begins with a thorough inspection of the home and background check of it owners, said coordinator Dolores Quintanilla. Efforts are made to match participants based on interests, she added.

“If a person tells me, ‘I like gardening’ when I do the interview with the families, I know who likes gardening. I try to match the affinities of the student with the families so the experience is better.”

Quintanilla will remain in contact with both parties throughout the living term of four months, or roughly a college semester, she said.

Weiler said the student chores could be light household duties such as cleaning, or simply provide companionship by sitting down to chat.

The number of international students attending Lambton College has risen rapidly to more than 1,200 students, including many coming from India, Mexico, China, Brazil and Jamaica. At the same time, more contract workers are arriving for the expansion at Nova Chemicals and other industrial projects.

The resulting pressure is driving up home and rental prices and contributing to an increase in illegal boarding houses and homelessness.

Lambton College has no plans to add a second student residence, said spokesperson Cindy Buchanan.

“The majority of international students prefer to have shared apartments or home stays along bus routes,” she said, noting that occupancy of the existing student residence didn’t reach capacity last year.

According to Weiler, the Homeshare program was developed specifically to address Sarnia’s housing problem. It’s based on similar and successful programs in Hamilton and Toronto, which see hundreds of families involved, she said.

Placements could also help familiarize visiting students with local culture and customs, Quintanilla said.

“(International students) are not exposed to the people in the community, but when they are in a house… they practice their English, they speak about their culture. It’s a win-win situation.”

Domestic students looking to save money on housing are also welcome to apply, she added.

For more, contact Dolores Quintanilla at 226-886-3007 or email [email protected].