Desiree Bailey says she and her daughter can't find housing because landlords don't want children in their buildings.
A situation that has become too common across Nova Scotia, is playing out in Bridgewater.
A single-mother says she’s being denied apartments because she has a child.
Desiree Bailey has responded to numerous ads for apartments rentals in the town only to hear the same story from landlords.
“A lot of places say it’s more of a quiet building, senior-friendly, mature tenants.”
Initially, she searched for an affordable two bedroom but is now looking into one bedrooms.
Bailey says she will sleep on a sofa so long as her daughter has her own room and a roof over her head.
“Yes, it’s very unfortunate. But at the end of the day, we need a place to live. So I will do whatever I have to do to ensure my child has that.”
A statement from the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission in June cautioned landlords across the province that refusing to rent to someone with a child is illegal.
Nova Scotia Landlords Advised Against Discriminatory Rental Practices https://t.co/i8GVnD4Tpx pic.twitter.com/53RbUp8EaR
— NS Human Rights (@NSHumanRights) June 5, 2019
In an e-mail, a spokesperson from the Commission encourages anyone who feels they may have been discriminated against to contact them directly.
However, Bailey says that process is not only long, but may not solve the problem.
“To fight against it, you know, even if I did go through, then I would be renting from somebody that didn’t initially want me there with a child to begin with.’
Housing Nova Scotia deals with tenancies issues through the residential tenancies program.
In a statement, they say there’s nothing they can do until a lease has been signed creating a formal arrangement between a tenant and a landlord.
MLA Mark Furey’s office says anyone looking for housing can turn to Community Services, Freeman House, or the Western office for Housing NS.
In the meantime, Bailey still hasn’t found an affordable place to live.
She is currently receiving help from a local organization but knows she can’t stay there forever.
“If the time runs out and I’m unable to find anything in Bridgewater, I feel like I’m basically, going to have to move away somewhere else.”
Bailey is concerned that without an address she may not be able register her daughter for the upcoming school year.
Reported by: Ed Halverson
Twitter: @edwardhalverson
E-mail: halverson.ed@radioabl.ca
