I just thought that I'd bring up two alternative types of housing that people might find useful -- I would never have known about these, if a Canadian friend in Edmonton hadn't told me about them.
I don't know what I would call the first of these -- maybe non-profit public housing? Here's what it looks like in Edmonton, basically to be considered for these, you have to apply, demonstrate a combination of stability (job, bank account, other assets) and need (family, salary not too high, etc.). When approved, you go on a list where they contact you when there are vacancies in the type of place you're interested in, and you can go and apply to the local housing manager. Rents are substantially cheaper than in commercial housing, and you're guaranteed not having to move and very limited rent increases. You can stay if your income goes up after you begin renting. Here's the Edmonton version:
http://www.edmonton.ca/for_residents/programs/homeed-faq.aspx
The second of these are private housing co-ops. In these, you go through an orientation, meet with the housing co-op, fill out an application, and if approved, go through an interview process and a wait list. If you get on the wait list, there are various restrictions as to the size of a house you can rent, etc.; when a house comes open and you're next on the list, you're invited to come look at it, and if you like it, are given the opportunity to rent. The rent is very cheap, these are good, multi-room houses with the maintenance paid for by the co-op, but you're expected to put in a few hours of work each month with the co-op (maintenance, committee work, stuff like that). Once in, though, you can stay for as long as you want. For comparison, my wife and I will go look at a 4-bedroom house in a very nice neighbourhood (2 blocks from both a good school and the river valley), for $1,000/month. The disadvantage of course is that you aren't building up equity in the house (though co-ops like this do exist) -- the advantage is that it offers a way of living for a family that is better than the cramped apartment but not as expensive or as drastic a step as buying one's own house. Joining a co-op is a way to move into a neighbourhood that you can't afford to own in, for a better life, a particular school, or to get more room for your kids. If you're interested in these, google "housing co-ops" and the name of your municipality to see if there are any around.
Sometimes both types of housing have subsidies for low-income families, though these are rarer than they used to be, I think. I would never have known about either of these options without having them explicitly spelled out for me, I hope that others find this useful.
I don't know what I would call the first of these -- maybe non-profit public housing? Here's what it looks like in Edmonton, basically to be considered for these, you have to apply, demonstrate a combination of stability (job, bank account, other assets) and need (family, salary not too high, etc.). When approved, you go on a list where they contact you when there are vacancies in the type of place you're interested in, and you can go and apply to the local housing manager. Rents are substantially cheaper than in commercial housing, and you're guaranteed not having to move and very limited rent increases. You can stay if your income goes up after you begin renting. Here's the Edmonton version:
http://www.edmonton.ca/for_residents/programs/homeed-faq.aspx
The second of these are private housing co-ops. In these, you go through an orientation, meet with the housing co-op, fill out an application, and if approved, go through an interview process and a wait list. If you get on the wait list, there are various restrictions as to the size of a house you can rent, etc.; when a house comes open and you're next on the list, you're invited to come look at it, and if you like it, are given the opportunity to rent. The rent is very cheap, these are good, multi-room houses with the maintenance paid for by the co-op, but you're expected to put in a few hours of work each month with the co-op (maintenance, committee work, stuff like that). Once in, though, you can stay for as long as you want. For comparison, my wife and I will go look at a 4-bedroom house in a very nice neighbourhood (2 blocks from both a good school and the river valley), for $1,000/month. The disadvantage of course is that you aren't building up equity in the house (though co-ops like this do exist) -- the advantage is that it offers a way of living for a family that is better than the cramped apartment but not as expensive or as drastic a step as buying one's own house. Joining a co-op is a way to move into a neighbourhood that you can't afford to own in, for a better life, a particular school, or to get more room for your kids. If you're interested in these, google "housing co-ops" and the name of your municipality to see if there are any around.
Sometimes both types of housing have subsidies for low-income families, though these are rarer than they used to be, I think. I would never have known about either of these options without having them explicitly spelled out for me, I hope that others find this useful.
