A growing number of Canadians live in unaffordable housing, meaning they spend 30 per cent or more of their income on it. According to newly released data from Statistics Canada, 23.2 per cent of households were in that situation in 2024, up 1.2 percentage points from 2022. “That [number is] probably low,” says Halifax resident Wendy Gatchell. “A lot of people, including my own kids, are paying more than that – almost half [of their income].” That situation has forced her family’s hand. “I share with my two sons, and my daughter has a husband, and so they share, but you can’t do it alone anymore,” she says. “It’s no wonder why so many people are living in tents or having to share with total strangers.” With average household income in the Atlantic provinces scoring the lowest in Canada – ranging from $100,000 to $108,000 – people are feeling the squeeze. “Terrible, it’s awful,” says Jay Cleroux, a Dartmouth resident. “There’s no reason for the rent prices to be this high.” “I’ve heard from seniors who literally own their homes and they’re saying, ‘I need to downsize. I want to move out of my home, I want to sell it,’” explains Dalhousie Legal Aid’s Hannah Main, a community legal worker. “‘But I don’t want to enter the rental market because I’m afraid,’” they tell her. “‘I’m afraid the rents are going to be too high or I’ll be stuck in a lease with the landlord end.’” The 2024 numbers just shared by Statistics Canada also show 27.9 per cent of Canadian households experienced financial difficulty within the last year due to housing costs. “I don’t know how far that number can go,” says Bruce Sellery, the CEO of Credit Canada. “What I’d highlight is that it’s up five percentage points since 2022, which is a significant increase.” “It gives me no room to save money,” says Cleroux. That means the financial crunch stories are all too common for Sellery’s company. “We spend all day, every day, fielding calls from people who have debt they can’t manage,” he says. “They’re exceedingly stressed.” He says budgeting and finding additional income are difficult tasks, but it’s all that people can really do. “It is really depressing,” he says. “I would say focus on your circle of control.” For Haligonian Wendy Gatchell, that could mean looking elsewhere to live. “I’m looking at actually going to Vancouver, because of the cost,” she says. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
