Halifax woman shares story of struggle on income assistance

A Halifax woman on income assistance is sharing her story of the struggle to find a place to live, in hopes of showing the need for more affordable housing.

"I'm scared, because I don't know where I'm going to end up," Michelle Nickerson said in an interview at her Clayton Park apartment Monday.

Nickerson says two months ago she decided to return to her hometown of Yarmouthand gave notice to her landlord. She was set to move out at the end of August, but as the date approached she was having trouble finding a landlord in Yarmouth. She also realized that she would not be able to access the same level of mental health services and transportation.

Nickerson says she has been diagnosed with depression, borderline personality disorderand anxiety. She changed her mind and told her landlord she wished to stay.

"There's more resources for me here through the mental health system. I go to the depression support group every Tuesday night. That's important for me to follow up with," she said.

No shelter allowance

Nickerson says her landlord then told her that the apartment had already been offered to someone else. She appealed to the Residential Tenancies program, which extended her stay until a Sept.8 hearing. CBC Newshas not been able to reach Nickerson's landlord.

Nickerson said she also informed the Department of Community Services that she would not be moving to Yarmouth. She says she was told she had to find a new apartment by the end of August, or the "shelter allowance" issued by the department would be cut off.

"Because I had no shelter coming the end of the month, whereas my official plan was to move to Yarmouth," she said.

In order for one person to receive a monthly shelter allowance of up to $535, the department typically requires proof that the person is paying rent.

Nickerson currently pays $675 per month in rent, and says she has not been able to find another apartment that suits her needs and budget. She was unable to pay her August rent but says she made efforts to pay her phone and electrical bill. This left her with no money and no food in the house.

Nickerson says community services staff had initially told her she would not receive assistance for September, but lateMondayafternoon she received $388 in her bank account, and a phone message from department staff informing her that they had paid rent directly to her landlord.

Department assistance

In an email statement, community servicesmedia relations advisor Heather Fairbairnwrote, "While we cannot speak to specific cases, our staff assist clients who are struggling with food and shelter issues."

Fairbairn explained the income assistance program pays for shelter based on actual costs, up to the maximum level of $535 for a single person on disability.

"A client must incur a cost for shelter in order to be eligible for support," she wrote. "If they are not paying rent or other shelter costs, they would not be eligible for a shelter allowance. If a client is unable to find accommodations, we provide referrals to the appropriate resources and services to help them secure and maintain housing."

Nickerson, 42, has been on income assistance since she was 19. She says she is unable to work due to epilepsy and a learning disability.

"I don't want to be on the streets. I deserve to have shelter everybody on assistance should deserve to have shelter, even homeless people that are on the street," she says.