The Rising of Housing Prices Increases the Worries of International Students

 

The rising of housing prices adds another worry to international students, who already struggle with an overwhelming lifestyle.
An international student from Peru, Camila Gomez, has three jobs and still struggles to pay her bills. Besides working three jobs, Gomez is a full-time student at St. Thomas university. She is currently in her third year, and aside from her financial burdens, she stresses with school assignments and attending class.

“I have three jobs, and it’s difficult, I actually have a lot of things on my plate right now; my three jobs, going to university, and classes,” said Gomez.

Gomez’s rent went up to $425. She was originally paying $410, nonetheless, due to the rising of housing prices her rent went up by $15. Gomez is grateful that her rent slightly increased in comparison to some of her peers, regardless, this still adds to her worries.

“I think every dollar counts. I started working when I came to Canada, and here I realized how hard is to earn money and how easy is to spend it” said Gomez.

An international student from Ecuador, Mercedes Ortiz, shares a similar story. Ortiz came to Canada in 2021, and the change of lifestyle was a complete shock to her. She is currently in her third year at St. Thomas university, studying international relations, economics, and human rights. When she came to Canada, she started working to afford her living expenses, nonetheless, it was a challenge to balance school, keeping a scholarship, and work.

“I think it’s one of the most difficult things I’ve ever done, I was used to a different lifestyle back in Ecuador. I felt I was growing up so fast,” said Ortiz.

Ortiz explained that her landlord has not formally raised her rent. Nevertheless, she acknowledges how the rising of housing prices is a great worry for international students. Ortiz knows many international students who have to move from their previous residences because they can’t afford their rent anymore.

She thinks there’s more pressure on being an international student. Many have to get a part-time job to afford their living expenses, besides having to deal with being far away from home and on their own.

“For international students, you don’t have any of your family here [in Canada], so you don’t have that support system that you had at home,” said Ortiz.

Gomez and Ortiz state that studying abroad is a great challenge. Having to balance, school work, jobs, and social life is not easy, and both agree that the experience has made them grow up faster.