Sharing bedrooms, infestations, scams: What some international students have to endure to find housing

Conestoga College studentBd Srinivasanis enduring a lot to stay in Canada and study.

Currently, the finance student from India pays $550 a month to live in a house with13 other students. She's in the basement with sixpeople and sharing a bedroom with twoof them.

A few weeks ago, Srinivasan noticed water was leaking through theceilingfrom the washroom above.

"Can you believe it? Now, we're down to two washrooms in the whole house,"shetold CBC News.

"How are we supposed to manage?"

And that's not all.

"See all this?" Srinivasansays, pointing to the dark spots on her arm. "It's insect bites."

She called the landlord for help and "he said just put vinegar and lemon on the insects and they'll be gone," she said, adding she waiting for treatment at the hospital for more than three hours and is on a medication to help with the irritation.

Srinivasan's situation is not unique. Other university and college students are finding themselves in less-than-ideal housing as they struggle to find anywhere to live while attending school.

A report went before city council in Waterloo earlier this month that indicated the region was lacking around 5,000 beds for students.

Add to that the cost of being an international student. According to Statistics Canada, the average tuition cost for an undergrad is around $7,000, but for an international student in a similar program it's $38,000.

In 2022, the federal government's figures showed more than 800,000 foreign students in Canada. That number is expected to rise to 900,000 this year.

Dr. Mike Moffatt, an assistant professor at Western University's Ivey Business School in London, Ont., says many students come to Canada with high hopes that can quickly change.

"They come here to get an education,contribute to Canada but they're often unaware or not made aware of how difficult Ontario's housing situation really is," Moffatt said.

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27 students scammed

Housing scams can be a major problem for students trying to secure housing in Waterloo region when they're coming from a different country.

Last fall, Kitchener real estate agent Deanna Anenecame across 27international students looking for an immediate place to live.

The grouphad actually bookeda one bedroom apartmentson Seagram Drive in Waterloo, but when they arrived at the address,they found themselves in front of University Stadium.

"What it is, is rows and rows of bleachers, changerooms and washrooms for athletes and visitors. There are no houses. There are no rooms," Anene explained.

Most of them had already paid first and last month's rent.

"Someone actually took advantage of these young students who were going to be half a world or more away from their parentsand there was no recourse for them," shesaid.

Through Anene's connections with colleges, investors and clients around the city, she was able to house about 10 of the students. Othersspent their first semester couch surfing orat 24-hour lounges set up by universities for when it's snowing or too late to go home after an exam.

High acceptance rate, lack of infrastructure: former student

Ashish Bhatia is aninternational student turned influencer who makes videos to help guide newcomersin Canada.

"Giving them offer letters is OK. But it's important to understand that they should have a place as well to live," he said.

A spokesperson for Conestoga College said in an email that they will be opening up an additional residence in Brantford this fall. And just last week, the college announced itpurchased two more buildings in Waterloo region that will help house its students.

The University of Waterloo provides a residence guarantee for all first-year students and say they areworking onanew strategy to build more on-campus housing.

Wilfrid Laurier University haspartnered with businesses like Settle-In Relocation and Spaces Shared to support students in finding affordable housing.

Barriers to housing

But there are more problems that make it difficult for international students to secure housing.

"When international students come here, they don't know anyone," Bhatiasays.

This makes it difficult for international students to getcredit reports andreferences, often required by landlords.

Bhatia also says some landlords have cultural preferences.

"Punjabi landlords prefer Punjabi students. Gujarati landlords prefer Gujarati students," he says.

Bhatia explainsabig part of this iseating habits, as "those who are vegetarianget more preference."

But at the end of the day, he stressesthat landlords should not focus on culture, but people themselves, as "people can be good andpeople can be bad as well we should just help each other."

Changes at federal levelmay help

Moffatt says the federal government should strengthen the rules around financial resources international students needbefore being given a student visa to make sure they have enough money to sustain themselves.

He also thinks post-secondary institutions need to get on "a moresustainablepath" by reflecting on their enrolment growthand building more residences to support their students.

A new visa stream for students who havesecured on-campus housing may help, he says.

"That would not only make sure that [students] can afford to live here, but incentivize schools to create that housing," Moffattsays.

Last month, federalHousing, Infrastructure and Communities Minister Sean Fraser said the government is even considering a cap on the number ofinternational students entering the countryto ease market pressure.

In the meantime, though, students like Srinivasan live in less-than-ideal conditions.

"I will not say I was thinking all green and flowers everywhere," she said about life in Canada.

"No, I knew I had to work hard. I have to take care of my course, my marks, my money everything," she added. "But seriously, I can't believe I have to pay $550 for a homeand in this condition."

LISTEN| The struggle to find housing as an international student in Waterloo region:

The Morning Edition - K-W8:26What some international students have to endure to find housing

Waterloo region's housing market has left some international students no choice but to live in cramped conditions.

Give me shelter: The hunt for housing in Waterloo regionis a series by CBC Kitchener-Waterloothat hears from the people struggling to secure the housing they want and need. They might be making do with non-traditional housing:a tent, a room shared with multiple people or their parents' basement. We look at how the basic need for housing is not being met for many people in a rapidly-growing region of Ontario.