Re: "Central Saanich has low-income housing," Aug. 16.
People with low incomes are rarely able to afford to buy homes. Even if they can scrape together a down payment, the monthly mortgage and associated costs are beyond their reach and it is highly unlikely buying a home will get any easier.
I believe young people have accepted that home ownership is not a given as it was for their parents. Therefore, rental housing needs to be more plentiful and more affordable. Whether you want to live in Central Saanich or anywhere else in Greater Victoria, $400 a month for decent housing is as scarce as hen's teeth.
I would like to know how the writer would budget on the minimum wage of $10.25 an hour for most jobs. If you're lucky enough to work 40 hours a week, your gross salary would be $1,640 per month. The basic formula used to calculate how much rent one should pay based on gross income would mean that this wage earner needs to find accommodation costing no more than $540 a month.
This may or may not include utilities. Other monthly expenses such as renter's insurance, car payments, car insurance, gas or other transportation costs, groceries, clothing and personal items and medical insurance make the hunt even more difficult.
Aldyne Kerrigan
Saanich
