‘Hard to be optimistic’ when searching for housing on a disability pension

KITCHENER - George White has less than a year to find a new apartment that is accessible and affordable.

White, 61, has multiple sclerosis and uses a wheelchair.

For the past 10 years he has lived in the main-floor apartment in a house on Walter Street in Kitchener. He pays $1,000 a month for rent, and receives $1,350 a month from his government disability pension.

Do the math, it doesn't leave very much," said White.

He was already diagnosed with MS when he moved to Walter Street. He liked the apartment and the location so he's made it work. Years ago, White hired a contractor to build a wheelchair ramp and make other changes.

Now, his landlord has given verbal notice - he wants the tenants out by November 2022 because the house with three apartments will be demolished and replaced with some townhouses.

So, a friend is helping White search for a new place.

I have been looking around at some apartments like mad, but they are all almost double what I am paying right now," said White.

None are truly accessible, at least for him. In addition to wider doorways, White needs light switches, power sockets and counters much lower to the floor so he can easily reach them from the wheelchair. The bathroom needs grab bars and a shower that accommodates a wheelchair.

While he continues that search, White dusted off his applications for a subsidized accessible unit through the Region of Waterloo. That has led to even more stress. The waiting list for subsidized accessible apartments is 10 years long.

White first applied for a subsidized accessible unit not long after moving onto Walter Street. He knew what was coming with MS, and he wanted to get on the waiting list.

If you talk to the region now there is a 10-year waiting list, if you talked to the region back then there was a 10-year waiting list, nothing has changed or happened over all these years," said White.

What I can tell you is rents have gone up like crazy."

White says he first applied for regional housing more than eight years ago. The region says he applied only four-and-a-half years ago. The region has not responded to a Record request for an interview. White says he can't get anyone on the phone at the region.

The guy who handles my case, I called him six times about a year ago to try and get this all sorted out, he never returned one of my phone calls. And I am just like: These are people's lives you are dealing with,'" said White. But that's the way the journey has been."

His situation was complicated by the death of his personal support worker in March 2020. White had given her all of his paperwork and applications. She was advocating for him with regional housing. He has not seen the file since his support worked died, and is searching frantically for it.

In late 2017, White says the region contacted him about his application and wanted him to select three possible addresses from a longer list of accessible-subsidized units.

White gave his personal support worker his file of documents and she went to the Region of Waterloo headquarters on his behalf. She returned with good news, he recalls. Housing administrators told his personal support worker that White should be moved into a unit. He heaved a huge sigh of relief, and did not think about it again until recently.

White says he first applied for regional housing soon after moving into his current apartment on Walter Street. He was already diagnosed with MS then, but could still walk. White knew what was coming though, and was making plans to have as much support as possible.

As the MS progressed White lost the use of his legs. Now, keyboarding or paperwork are a physical challenge as his fine motor skills deteriorate.

Absolutely nothing has happened in the eight years that I have been trying so far to get a place," said White. So, it is fairly hard to be optimistic that something is going to happen in the coming year."

Terry Pender is a Waterloo Region-based reporter focusing on arts and entertainment for The Record. Reach him via email: tpender@therecord.com