While the group at the ASK Salt Spring gathering to welcome Martine Verreault was small, only nine, the conversation about housing our children was both lively and informative. After our Acknowledgement and a chance for everyone to introduce themselves, we learned that Martine is “excited and delighted” about the arrival of our cold season and the opportunity to enjoy the warmth and comfort of her fireplace.

With a focus on understanding and finding solutions for the negative effects inadequate housing has on our children, Martine began by telling us the story of a fictional family. This story was based on documented research about the effects of housing insecurity on our children: Young Maya began her life in suitable housing. But, when COVID engulfed us, she and her parents were forced to move. Soon, her mother became pregnant, necessitating another move. When that temporary rental ended, they were forced to move again, this time to an old trailer, a space so small that Maya could only take one box of her favourite toys, and her baby brother, with no space to crawl and explore, began to show signs of delayed development.

As Martine spoke, she piled book after book, each representing yet another burden Maya and her baby brother were forced to carry. These burdens accumulated, weighing them down, damaging their sense of safety and stability, and fueling shame. Soon, the pile of books illustrating these cumulative burdens had grown until we could barely even see Martine.

Estimates suggest that many Salt Springers live in housing that is insecure, unsafe, too small, or too expensive (to name a few). Behind these estimates are people, including children, living in unsuitable conditions every day. 

Housing concerns seem to enter nearly every local conversation, with many skilled professionals , government officials, and a multitude of nonprofits seeking solutions. Martine’s specific focus on the housing needs of our children is unique and holds great potential for positive change. With 1,345 children under 15 on Salt Spring (2021 Census), it is a pretty sure bet that some are inadequately housed. Martine’s time with us as our ASK Salt Spring guest made it quite clear that a child-focused housing initiative is long overdue. And Martine has the needed training and experience to fuel this conversation, including:

• A Master’s degree in psychoeducation – a profession that focuses on helping people who are facing difficulties adapt and do well at home, school, work, and in the community, 
• Certification as a RentSmart Educator,
• Experience as a case worker with Island Community Services’ (ICS) Housing First Program (https://saltspringcommunityservices.ca/housing-first-and-shelter/housing-first/), and
• Her role as coordinator and facilitator of ICS’s Yellow Sub, a drop-in psychosocial support program for adults with mental health and wellness needs, offering social connection, group activities, and practical workshops.

The research is clear: Children living with housing insecurity show significantly higher symptoms of anxiety and depression than securely housed children. They are more likely to feel insecure and ashamed, struggle at school, experience physical challenges, react aggressively, and the list goes on. Housing insecurity can also interfere with positive parenting. A parent’s stress can shape how they respond to their child, the child’s distress escalates, and conflict grows. These effects tend to build over time. Children do not necessarily outgrow them, and they to often follow them into adulthood.  Martine’s message was also clear: We too often fail to recognize the damage inadequate housing does to children’s mental and physical health, school performance, and relationships.

It is a bleak picture, but there are solutions. For our Salt Spring kids to be securely housed, their home must be long-term, safe, and affordable: a home with dependable tenure, in good repair, and at a fair rent that leaves enough for food and other basic needs. (A common benchmark is that housing costs, including utilities, should not exceed 30% of household income.) Secure housing is the goal of House Children First, the community initiative Martine shared with us. It rests on five pillars:

• Property Consulting offered by a navigator would offer a clearly defined path forward for homeowners who are considering renting their home to a family but may not have the regulatory and safety prerequisites to move forward. This navigator would guide, help, and encourage potential landlords to prepare their home to welcome a family as long-term tenants.
• Financial Incentives for landlords renting to families at a fair rent could be an important motivator for them. While the source of these incentives has not yet been determined, suggestions flew, including the CRD Rural Housing Program, already offering $40,000 to renovate suites rented at affordable rates; Salt Spring’s HousingNOW home sharing initiative; BC Housing; and local foundations.
• Landlord and Family Support would give families and landlords who join the program a point of connection and support from the start of the tenancy, so challenges can be addressed before they become too serious to resolve. Support for families would depend on each family’s needs, and could include help with parental stress, household organization, conflict resolution, or understanding their rights and responsibilities as tenants. As Martine is trained in these skills as a psychoeducator and certified RentSmart Educator (https://centre.support/service/rentsmart-fostering-healthy-lasting-rental-relationships/), she could offer this support to families herself. Landlords would also get support to understand their rights and responsibilities, and would have somewhere to turn when concerns come up. It was suggested that LandlordBC (https://landlordbc.ca/), the association representing residential landlords and rental property managers in British Columbia, could be a helpful partner for this landlord support. It was also suggested that Martine continue to build her budding relationship with Adam, our Salt Spring HousingNOW coordinator, who is developing similar supports.
• Celebrating Our Landlords who provide stable homes to families at a fair rent could be a powerful incentive. Can we inspire our community to acknowledge these landlords with celebrations, discounts, and perks? It was suggested that Martine reach out to our Chamber of Commerce to encourage businesses to offer discounts and other benefits to these landlords. And, the conversation went way beyond discounts, with possibilities such as priority seating, parking, and public recognition in local media.
• Family Housing Specialists are also important, in Martine’s opinion. Exploration about the benefits and challenges of a local housing entity is expected to begin soon. It is possible that House Children First could benefit from the establishment of such an entity. Local property management companies could also play a key role by encouraging landlords to rent to families at a fair rent, recognizing and celebrating their efforts..

This savvy group couldn’t resist offering Martine suggestions about other groups to contact, seeking collaboration, funding, and, possibly, even a home for House Children First within an existing organization. Among this list were:

• IWAV,
• The Lady Minto Hospital Foundation,
• School District 64,
• The Salt Spring Island Local Community Commission (already funding a portion of HousingNOW and offering Grants-in-Aid to organized groups seeking funding),
• The Salt Spring Island Foundation,
• Our enthusiastic and determined Carmen at Habitat for Humanity Victoria, and
• The list went on…

As our time together was already over, a participant summed it up by noting that, while housing is a huge and complex conversation with no simple solutions, Martine’s focus on suitable housing for children offers an extremely valuable focus to this conversation. A focus that will be successful no matter how many children are helped: even 5, 10, 15 better housed children will be a win. Charmed by Martine, we left wishing her well in this new conversation and cheering her on toward solutions that will have lifelong benefits to our children. (Thanks, Martine!)

House Children First is in its early stages. Organizations and community members interested in helping build one of the pillars are invited to contact Martine at info@pacifichorizons.ca.

Just in case you are interested. . . .This report has been written by Gayle Baker, founder of ASK Salt Spring. It has been reviewed by Martine.