Finding a place to rent in Alberta can be a challenge if you’re on a fixed income or new to the province and that has some people going to extreme lengths to keep a roof over their heads.
Monita Gourlie, 55, has lived in Airdrie since 2007 and has been homeless since September of last year.
A failed marriage and health conditions are preventing her from working and she currently collects $776 a month in disability.
She spends her days and nights in her truck in a suburban shopping mall because she can’t find a place to live on her small budget and she says she is not alone.
“There's a lot of homeless in our town and they don't realize it. I mean I lived in the parking lot for almost six and a half months and they don’t realize how many other people are out there besides myself,” said Gourlie. “I have places that are up for rent but because of the damage deposit and the first month's rent I just can't afford it and just can’t do it.”
Gourlie says she doesn’t understand why there is no facility in Airdrie to assist people who don’t have anyone to turn to.
“We don’t have it. We just don’t have it. We have to go elsewhere to find help and to me that’s just crazy,” she said. “Somebody open your eyes and see what’s going on.”
Lori McRitchie runs the Airdrie Foodbank and has helped Gourlie and many others.
She says the hidden homeless population in Airdrie and Alberta is growing.
“Her story just breaks your heart. And it could happen to any one of us. Circumstances fall into place that just have your back against a wall and you don’t have any alternatives and nowhere to go,” said McRitchie. “It shouldn't be happening in Canada. No.”
Airdrie does not have an emergency shelter and Mayor Peter Brown says council is collecting information on the issue to create a plan going forward.
“Obviously we have to have something here, I would think, in the next, as we continue to grow, probably in the next, I don’t even want to time frame it until I get all the data,” said Brown. “It’s certainly on the radar and I know that our staff is working diligently to come up with some details and provide that opportunity for us to review some information and make some good decisions as we move forward.”
He says they are working on building more affordable housing in the community but that it will be about 16 months before the units are complete.
In the meantime, Gourlie tries to stay busy and writes in a diary to keep her mind occupied.
She uses a nearby truck stop for showers and to grab a bite to eat and while she’s not proud of her situation, she hopes that by telling her story more can be done to help others in the same situation.
(With files from Amanda Singroy)
