Humber College students say they like sharing space with seniors and to keep their company. CBC photo.
More than 500 foreign students have signed up with Humber College in an innovative housing program that links them with seniors in the community.
The college earlier this year teamed up with technology platform SpacesShared to find affordable houses for its many international students, who cannot afford the price of apartments since a one-bedroom can rent for more than $2,000 monthly.
SpacesShared helps older adults who are interested in home-sharing connect with verified student guests, according to the college
“Tackling the issue of affordable housing for students is critical in this important time in their lives,” said Jason Hunter, vice-president of Students and Institutional Planning at Humber.
The students help seniors with their housing costs by renting spare rooms at a time when it is so expensive.
Students can receive a discount if they agree to perform certain tasks around the home like mowing the lawn, doing the dishes, or even spend time with the seniors and providing companionship, Humber officials said
“The partnership and platform offer an innovative solution that addresses student housing needs in a safe way, while also benefiting our valued seniors living in the community,” he said.
Ian Crookshank, dean of students at Humber College, says students can save money through the pairings, easing the financial pressures they face.
Some students can save money by helping the seniors do chores around the house.
Students who sign up for the program can live with their hosts and pay online and homeowners with vacancies can sign up online, post an ad and connect with students to find a tenant, he said.
With the sky-rocketing price of housing in this city and elsewhere, Humber College is not the only school trying to help its students with housing pressures through pairings with seniors.
Georgian College is using a similar platform, called Homestay, to pair their students with local residents in Barrie. Some students have also been making their own arrangements to stay with seniors.
Most of the students cannot afford the high housing costs and get along well with the seniors.
Students say the arrangements work well and they provide companionship for the seniors.
Awofadeju Olajide Simon, an international student from Nigeria, said when he decided to move to Canada, all of the living options were way out of his budget.
He was told by friends in Canada it would easier to find housing from within the country than writing to landlords in Toronto from Nigeria.
“It wasn’t. I was stressing out for days,“ he said.
Fortunately, one of his professors linked him up with an elderly couple in the city’s east end.
Some seniors have written on social media that they love the idea of renting to students.
“This is just what I was hoping might be a possibility for me,” wrote Suzanne Dick. “I just moved here and I am close to the Lakeshore campus. I am a senior.”
It “is such a super idea. Win! Win,” said Margaret McCarthy.
There is a huge demand for shared affordable housing since Humber College has about 33,000 full-time students, of which 9,300 are international students. There are more than 800,000 international students now studying in Canada.
SpacesShared can be reached online at www.spacesshared.ca