Usually when someone misses too many rent payments, they’re threatened with an eviction notice.
But for participants at an annual fundraiser, missing rent means spending a night at the Thunder Bay Shelter House.
Michael Quibell was one of those participants at the ninth annual Raise the Rent campaign. Each participant had to raise $625 otherwise they would be staying the night at the George Street Shelter House.
Quibell, a vendor at the Thunder Bay Country Market, made sure he was going to go home at the end of the night by selling baked goods.
He raised more than a $1,000 for the campaign.
He began volunteering for the Shelter House about a year ago by helping organize a feast and run a food drive. He said it’s important to give back to those in need. “Customers at the market were very supportive,” he said Tuesday. “People like supporting something like this. They knew it was a good cause and lots of people are familiar with Shelter House. They were happy to buy the baking and make a donation. Every bit helps.”
Tracey Lasook, who works at the Kinna-aweya Legal Clinic, also participated in the fundraising event. Lasook planned to ask friends and family to help her meet the $625 rent.
She believes it’s important that the most marginalized people in the community have access to a number of services including the most basics, such as food and shelter. “It’s absolutely crucial that people of Thunder Bay and outlying communities understand the need to maintain the shelter in this city,” she said. “The vacancy rate of the city is so low and the amount of money people receive on social assistance, Ontario Disability Support Program and other income supports just doesn’t meet it.”
The city’s vacancy rate dropped to 1.1 per cent this month, making it the lowest in Ontario. Rental prices have also gone up in the city.
On average, the price for a one-bedroom apartment in 2011 could cost someone around $676 on the north side compared to $609 in the south side.
A three-bedroom apartment in the north is priced out to $1,013 compared to $849 in the south.
Event coordinator Tessa Murray said since $625 no longer reflects the average rent, they plan on increasing the amount participants have to raise for next year’s fundraiser.
The campaign goal is $25,000 but Murray said they expected to surpass that amount.
The total from Raise the Rent will also be combined into the Shelter House’s major event -- Relay for Shelter. “We fundraise $400,000 a year to keep the Shelter House running so it’s very important that we get the community to help to allow people to live with dignity and respect,” Murray said. “There’s a lot of people that can’t find adequate housing so it’s important that we are able to provide as many services as we can. We have a dorm room for the men that sleeps 27, then five in each of the youth and women’s dorms.”
Although participants were trying not to stay at the Shelter House, Murray guaranteed the facility wasn’t a scary place to sleep at.
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