Architect and urban planner Naama Blonder paints a picture of everything a newcomer faces when landing in Toronto, including limited access to affordable housing.My partner and I moved to Toronto 10 years ago, back when it was just the two of us, without kids. Our hunt for housing was not too terrible. Initially, we settled into University of Toronto Family Housing for our first apartment. Later on, we moved to another apartment building where we spent the next seven years.
In today's Toronto, newcomer families are up against significant challenges when searching for an appropriate place to live. These challenges include the difficulty of finding a 3-bedroom apartment, the lack of 4-bedroom options, and the struggle to access quality schools and daycare facilities. Where can you find 3-bedroom units with all the modern in-suite amenities then? Typically, only in the newer developments. And if you are an immigrant hoping to be near public transit to cut down on the expenses of owning a car, your choices are limited. You might find a few options along Eglinton or in City Place, but they are quite scarce., making housing options there unaffordable for newcomers.
In addition to the practical challenges newcomer families are facing in today’s market, there is a troubling trend of anti-immigration sentiments in Canada that are unfairly blaming immigrants for the housing crisis. No doubt that immigration contributes to increased demand for housing, further straining the already limited supply, but this argument oversimplifies a multifaceted issue and ignores the contributions that immigrants make to the economy and society as a whole.