Students scramble as Budget 2016 closes nursing residence in Corner Brook

Western Health is closing its nursing school residence in the wake of Budget 2016, leavingstudents who had already registered to live there in September struggling to find affordable housing in Corner Brook.

"They're very devastated," said SaraLanger, a vice-president of the Grenfell Campus Student Union, which represents the affected students.

"Alot of them have been calling into the housing office here atGrenfell, sometimes in tears, not knowing what's going to happen to them."

• Full coverage of Budget 2016

Langer said the news, which came in a press release from Western Health detailing its cost-saving initiatives in the wake of Budget 2016, was unexpected.

"We were all shocked," she said.

Monaghan Hall, at Western Regional Memorial Hospital,has69 rooms which will closeas of September. Theyeventually will be turned into office space.

"We will not be doing extensive renovations," said Devon Goulding, the chief financial officer with Western Health, adding that the residence fits in with anacute care facility planned down the road.

"The investment we make will be minimal and only essential to get us through until that time."

Stranded students

Langer said Grenfell Campus has stepped up to the plate, and about half of the nursingstudents will be able to live in its residences next school year,butat a price.

"It costs $700 extra, per semester, for them to be here," said Langer, adding that doesn't include transit costs in order to commute to the hospital.

"Many of them have reached out and said they won't be able to afford this cost."

Langer said off-campus housing in Corner Brook is hard to find, and affordable rent even rarer.

"I'm glad that Grenfell stood up and took the opportunity to help these students. And I think there is an opportunity to help them more," she said.

Langer said the student union continues to talk to Western Health and Grenfell Campus administration in the hopes of a better solution to the problem.