Canada's housing crisis is adversely affecting international students, University of Waterloo study finds

A new studyled by a team of researchers at the University of Waterloo'sfaculty of environment hasfound that international students are among the most vulnerable people impacted by the current housing crisis.

"They experience very similar challenges regarding the lack of affordable, suitable quality housing similar to other groups newcomers, low income families in Canada and other students. They face discrimination [and] fall victim to fraud a lot," researcher Alkim Karaagac told CBC News.

We have seen several levels of sources of housing pressure for international student families.- AlkimKaraagac, researcher, University of Waterloo

Karaagac said that at the federal level, the research found that there are fewer building programs for universities, provincial-level higher education institutions funding is frozen for decades, and there is limited or nonexistent family housing or student housing in general.

"We have seen several levels of sources of housing pressure for international student families," Karaagac said.

In February, a representative with Khalsa Aid Canada told CBC News it had seen an uptick in calls from international students needing food, clothing and a place to live.

The charity helps students struggling to access food, clothesand shelter in cities nationwide. Its director, Jindi Singh, said governments and post-secondary institutions should be doing more to support international students in need.

"We truly feel it's not really our role," Singh said, adding that post-secondary institutions are "making billions out of this situation," but "there's absolutely no wrap-around services for these students, who are left to fend for themselves."

'Financial burden'

Karaagac said researchers heard from a family of four from the Bahamas who were looking for a rental before they arrived in Canada, but their applications were all being rejected. She said they eventually found an Airbnb and had still been staying there at the time of the interview for eight months living out of boxes and suitcases because no one accepts them as tenants.

She said another family from Bangladesh shared how they thought they had rented an apartment through an agency before they arrived in Canada. However, when they arrived they found out that the apartment was already rented out.

"They have been living in the basement of another [family's house] for the rest of their education," Karaagac said.

"Another family from Colombia, they've been asked for so [much] documentation that they can't possibly provide because they're newcomers. So, they were asked to pay six months of rent upfront, which is not legal, but it has become the common industry practice and they had to pay. So, this financial burden, spending entire years saving and borrowing from family or banks has become prevalent."

'It is not all sunshine and roses'

Karaagac is recommending that at the university and city levels, international students should be provided with guidance and up-to-date information before they embark on their journey.

"We need to talk about not only the programs and university, but also housing markets, cost of living, waiting lists for university housing and day cares and family doctors so that they make informed decisions," she said.

"It is not all sunshine and roses, but we need to tell them, otherwise it is false advertisement."

Karaagac also recommends guaranteeing subsidized, off market housing for every full-time tuition-paying international student.

"This is not a radical idea. The U.K. and U.S., other major international student-receiving countries, they guaranteed it. When they offer acceptance to a program, they also offer a place to live housing, subsidized housing in their offer letter, so that when people come we don't fail them and they're not in a vulnerable situation in the housing market,"she said.

The researcher said there is also a need for bylaws to protect newcomers from illegal practices, rental scams, improper fees and discrimination in the market.