The Eilesen family is being forced to move out of the home they’ve lived in for eight years. Their rent was a manageable $1900, but the landlord now needs to move in because their family is immigrating to Canada from Ukraine.

The family of five has been trying everything to get a home, including offering $200 a month over the asking price and $2000 damage deposits. Many landlords are looking for tenants whose monthly salary is triple the monthly rent but the Eilesens don’t fit the criteria.

Not Enough Housing

The lack of housing in the GTA can be partly attributed to the surge in immigration. In June, Canada’s population reached over 40 million and while this is essential to the economy, real estate experts are saying some things were overlooked.

John Pasalis, president of Realosophy Realty, says that the government should have figured out how to build more homes before the surge because now home prices are skyrocketing. Renters are feeling overwhelmed with this situation because of astronomical increases in rent.

Time To Move?

Since the Eilesen family is not finding much luck with housing in the GTA, they are considering moving to Atlanta where they have family and the prices of homes is considerably cheaper. The worried mother said she’d never thought they would be forced to move out of Canada due to lack of housing.

The Eilesens have had a storage container packed in their driveway since April, believing that they would have found a place to move by June. Their landlord has allowed the family to stay until August 31 so the family is trying their hardest to find a home. They are worried they might have to move back in with their parents, but wonder how others are faring in situations like theirs.