Halifax nurse lives in van because of staggering cost of housing in Canada 

📍To my own research In Canada, individuals living in cars and vans due to partial homelessness result from a complex interplay of factors. High housing costs relative to income, stagnant wages, and income inequality drive this issue. Job loss, weak social support, medical expenses, evictions, and lack of affordable housing also contribute, while systemic problems and inadequate policies further perpetuate the phenomenon.

The cost of rentals across Canada is ridiculous for low income individuals.

If a health care worker has to live in a van there's no hope for Canada.

I’m not happy nor proud of this. She needs far more respect and better living conditions. I’m very unhappy she doesn’t deserve this.

This country is going down the drain... If things don't change soon, we'll be leaving.

I'm not a nurse but I'm a medical professional and I can't afford to buy any groceries that aren't on sale, I'm eating the same meals everyday, bike to work, and still barely saving anything to put into my mortgage. 10 years ago I was working in a grocery store making a lot less and somehow living better than I am today....

The same is happening in Australia. Rentals have increased by 35 to 50% recently. The Gov is doing nothing to apply rent control neither to get sufficient affordable accommodation. A very sad scenario. I do empathize with this lady and hope her situation is improved and she gets a suitable and safe place to live.

If this story surprises the host of this program she has not been paying attention and consequently not doing her job highlighting the extent of this crisis in Canada. I personally know heaps of healthcare professionals from HCAs to registered nurses living in vans or moving back with their parents if they are in a position to have family because of the cost of housing being so completely out of reach. We are in a deep crisis.

This makes me angry and frustrated. There is no way she should not be able to afford rent. This scenario has happened in a very short time in Halifax.

I used to be a proud canadian

The cost of housing needs to come down everywhere in Canada

Headlines said she's a Nurse.. she's not. She is a CCA (Continuing Care Aid) far far from a nurse as far as income and education.

Let's get something clear here. She has stated she is a CCA in NS. That is an unregulated care provider, NOT a nurse. In most provinces that is a very poorly paid position. Regardless, working at a hospital full time for 25 years and not being able to afford rent is absurd. There is more to this story, without a doubt. I am in awe of her courage while at the same time very concerned about her safety.

Living in a car in Australia, I've worked all my life....no I don't drink, smoke or do drugs,there are no houses even if you can afford one.Funny how it's happening all over the world, I'm actually happy that I'm not being held to ransom for rent.

rent for a pretty basic 1BR in Vancouver is 36000 per year. Minimum wage is less than 35000 per year. When basic wages are lower than basic rent we have a huge problem.

I just got a paralegal degree living out of my car the past 2 years. One year rent was more than a 2 year college degree...

Ditto. Like Terri, I was rent-evicted when my landlord told me he was putting up the house for sale, in which I rented a basement suite for $700/month. I slept in my van while I searched vainly for another place. That was a year ago. He still hasn't sold the house but has re-rented the suite for $1400. My pension/benefits total $1800 monthly. No way I could afford $1400.month, if I want to eat. I'm a retired teacher, 71 yrs old. I'm still sleeping in the van and probably will be for life.

Yup. After decades of home ownership, I lost everything in a divorce. Once my daughter moves out, I’ll be looking for a van/motor home as I can’t maintain these rent levels. Scary and sad..

I lived in a van for 6 months. No shame in that.

i suspect this will become more and more common over the next 5-10 years

a cca in nova scotia averages 63K which is 3500 monthly after tax... she is either making a point, wanting this or has spending issue...A quick check and Ifound the following for a room: 600/th as well as : 900 and 700 and 1200

I rent and own nothing. I pay $1,750 for my apartment a month; so if my rent keeps increasing, even though I have a full time job that pays over minimum wage I will probably end up homeless. I'm saving all the extra beans I can earn to buy a van to live in for this exact eventuality.

This would be surprising even for Vancouver but Halifax??? Unbelievable. Something has to change...

The way our nurses and teachers are treated is a national disgrace. Doug Ford can build all the hospital beds he wants, but who's going to staff them. Nurses need a big raise and reasonable work hours!

Housing in Canada is insane. The government has to slow down immigration. This is just shameful.

The government is more concern about the refugees sleeping on the streets.

I had a great job in Ontario and was stuck living in a Van for 2 years due to the rental costs. I moved to Edmonton, bought a house, new car, all new furniture and My monthly rent and utilities is now $1200 a month..... F... you Ontario.... The government needs to start taking responsibility because no one should have to live without housing.

Suddenly being on disability and living in government housing isn't so bad. Same thing is happening here in Australia, rents are so expensive and rarely under $400 a week.

Same. I have been sleeping in my suv full time since January with my dog. Let rents go to hell

She has been working for 25 years? there must be another personal reason not being disclosed here.

The funny thing is she doesn't even qualify for the grocery rebate

What do you expect the outcome to be, when you have the leader of Canada, throwing all our tax payer dollars to other countries and not investing in his own country or citizens!!!! The only solution is vote of non confidence for this government

I read in the news today that Truadue has given 8 billion dollars so far to Ukraine and meanwhile Canadians with full time job are forced to sleep in a van. Canada is broken.

Thank JT and Crista for this. 1/2 trillion government spending in 4 years. What else could we expect?

I lived in a van for 4 years because of the cost of housing

I raised my kids, got divorced. I was an HCA. I have to live in a rooming house. And I am terrified of retirement. What's lower than a rooming house!?!? I'm scared.

8 years of a liberal government what do you expect?

I'm in my 30s. Pretty much all my friends need to live with family. No one can afford to have independence. Governments certainly prepared generations ahead

She is brave and resourceful.

Canadian dream. Take notice, newcomers.

Not just homeowners, I rent, eat once a day and hungry most of the day. I can't afford to drive due to ridiculous fuel prices. I too am in Halifax NS, a province with the highest tax and the lowest wages in the country. I wish I had a camper or could afford one so I could eat more often by eliminating my rent. Yesterday I found out the Ukrainians coming to Canada get free housing, wow must be nice to get treated like kings by our boy wonder on the hill.

Does not sound right Something else is out if the picture Worked for10 years: min pay 10 cad per hour, but we managed to buy a house and payed it off

Pretty sad honestly, also knowing she has children who are adults, you might think they would support their mother so she doesnt have to live in a van, but these days the respect for parents has diminished as well which is another calamity on its own.

When van life and small homes used to be a niche thing for quirky couples in their early 30s is now very much a reality for some whether they like it or not.

Van living is happening more and more.😮

$3,000/month for an average 1-bedroom apartment in Vancouver. Crazy times. On the positive side, she can have a different ocean view everyday of her life for nothing at all.

This is what happens when they print money but not housing supply.. thanks Turdeau

Bring some more immigrants and refugees in, they are already living on Toronto streets should be a big help ugh

you imagine working 25 years in a hospital and never managed to have enough money to own a home

The title of this video is very misleading. She IS NOT a nurse but rather a continuing care aide. A nurse is a protected title that requires maintaining a license. Please change this asap.

From british columbia Canada. Iv been living in a travel trailer 5 years now due to high rent cost and having to live off assistance after a spine/nerve injury. I see many canadians moving into anything from cars to R.V . And in comming yeqrs many more will be doing the same if aomething is not done about our housing market aswell as inflation

I worked full time in a furniture store in the office and the only reason I wasn't homeless is that I have my mom's house to live in. Used to be able to afford an apartment just fine in my town. Not even close now. This is everywhere.

Not buying this story.

This is true, as an RN myself, I could verify that we are severely underpaid and under-appreciated.

I’m an accountant and because my job is 3 hrs away from my place , I currently sleep in my vehicle all week for the same reason

Thank Justin Trudeau it’s 100% square on his shoulders

Very Sad news Halifax is that expensive 1800 $ for one bedroom. Anyone one how much is rent in Montréal can you get anything in 700$ one bedroom in Montréal it used to be so cheap

YaY for Justin, he is great, everyone should live in a van is his motto.

Thousends of nurses and doctors in BC are potentially homeless because they got fired during Cvid and never were rehired..

How do you survive winter in Canada on a van?

Thank you Justin

She has a better view from her van than probably living in a house! I hope to one day live in a van close to the lake or ocean...

She must be able to afford a studio, at least, but she refuses to make "investors" and banks richer. I admire her courage.

3 years for me with a service dog. Work full time in Halifax/Dartmouth as a city truck driver. Spent 19 years on the road in a truck.

Clickbait! nursing assistant isn't a nurse. Wages are different.

I am a senior engineer (Canadian trained) and I cant afford to buy a house. Employers do not want to pay for skilled workers and the cost of living is just absurd in this country.

This is absolutely terrifying, Canada really went down hill, I live in Hamilton and rent is getting crazy here as well, Canada can't afford Trudeau anymore, he wrecked this country big time.

I have a decent apartment here in Montreal and make $1300 every two weeks My rent is $1500

If Halifax is tough, think what it’s like in Vancouver

Well Halifax still votes Liberal.

I would be concerned for her safety as family or a friend.

"Nurse" in the title was misleading, she's not an RN or even RPN

This person is not a nurse she is a (CCA) continuing care assistant. There’s a difference.

Thank you Justin :)

After separation lost pretty well everything, living in a borrowed camper for the summer while I work 2 jobs to stay afloat and find some extra time and cash to build a tiny home before winter. I have spent a few winters in damp freezing trailers in my life. Never been out of work in my life and costs just keep going up. The winner takes it all...

Living in a can is the new Canadian dream. Thank you judas Trudeau

This is a real issue in Canada

This is happening all over the world. I was living in Reno (2022) NV, USA and the cost of apartments has gone sky-high. Studio apartments are going for 1,800 to 2,500 a month - crazy!

Many cities in canada have min sizes for homes, often in the 1200 or even 1600 square feet, then they add in that houses of set sizes need 2, 3 or more bathrooms. This greatly increases the cost of homes. The reason they do this is even more annoying. Its to actually drive the cost to build homes up on purpose. the more expensive a home is... the more taxes the city can charge on it and the more money the city can make. In truth, small homes in the 380-800 square foot size are very cheep to make, an unfinished 12x28 or 336 square foot, suitable for 1 bedroom 1 bathroom, shell is 16,279. 14x44 or 616 square feet is $26,668 base. you could have these finished into really nice homes for under 130k a 2 bedroom, 2 bath home for even 180k changes the market enough..

I hope I have a van someday.

The cost of gas will soon evict her from the van.

Misleading video, critical care assistant.

I work in the health care system full time and it’s a struggle as a single person

I'm sure another carbon tax and two or three additional compliance boosters will put her on a better path

CCAs make around $23-$25 hr. here in Hellifax, nowhere near enough to live happily. Its the nurses, doctors and surgeons that rake it in.

Here I am (like many) converting a bus to a tiny home because I want to lol

She is not a nurse. Shes an aid making $18-24 an hour. A RN whos been working for 25 years would be making closer to $60 an hour. Big difference in salary.

If she voted for Trudeau u got what u aksed for.

I sold my hose to be able to buy food and rent a small apartment live with my teenage kids.

Average pay in NS for a CCA is 33 an hour, that's roughly 5,5k a month... She can't afford a 1 bd for 1800?? I totally agree that rental prices are totally insane rn, but there's something catchy here...

25 Years working as a CCA. U R an incredible person Thank U for your services

The Canadian Gov. fueled the renoviction across the country. What landlord wouldn't take the Gov subsidy money to renovate, at the same time allowing them to legally kick out the current tenant, to then double or even triple the rent after a few hundred in renos. The Gov set up the perfect storm.

She's not a nurse(RN). Nurse in Canada makes at least $90,000 a year.

Trudeau's done so much damage to this once great country of our's. Basically, irreparable at this point.

dont listen to the literal bots that just say 'this is everywhere' ' this is all over the world' we KNOW what we've lost in this country. Canadians need to speak louder

This is what 500 000 immigrants a year inevitably produces.

I live in western Ontario. The room rental cost used to be $500ish for many years and aparment rental were around $1000. Suddenly it doubled.$1000 and $2000 respectively. Toronto is even the worst. If you wanna get the small tiny apartment, it is $2500. I really hope they increase the property tax on someone who has more than one house

This is Trudeaus Canada. I hope she got that grocery check that was supposed to help

She’s a PSW not a Nurse.

This is what happens after 8 years of a PM with a drama degree and no experience in economics and managing a country.