A recent report from Statistics Canada reveals that over 60% of Indian international students in Brampton are living in unsuitable housing. This troubling trend is part of a larger pattern seen across Canadian municipalities, where international students often face worse housing conditions than their Canadian-born peers.
Key findings from the report include:
- Housing Suitability: The National Occupancy Standard defines unsuitable housing as lacking enough bedrooms for the household size and composition. One requirement is that adults not in a couple should have their own bedroom.
- Comparison with Canadian Students: The report shows a stark contrast in housing conditions between international and Canadian-born students, with the latter group experiencing much lower rates of unsuitable housing.
- Specific Findings in Brampton and Surrey: These municipalities, which have large populations of Indian students, show the highest percentages of international students living in unsuitable housing. In Brampton, more than 60% of Indian students face such conditions, compared to just 16.6% of Canadian-born students in Surrey.
- Municipal Responses: Brampton has taken steps to address the issue, such as Mayor Patrick Brown highlighting extreme cases of overcrowded rentals and the introduction of a Residential Rental Licensing Pilot project to protect renters and reduce illegal units.
- Institutional Measures: Algoma University in Brampton is opening a new residence to house over 500 students, aiming to alleviate some of the pressure.
- Regulatory Changes: In response to the growing number of international students and their impact on housing, there have been provincial and federal regulatory changes. These include a ban on international student applications to private career colleges, increased financial requirements for international students, and a cap on study permits.
The growing population of international students, particularly in Ontario, which hosts over half of Canada’s international students, continues to exacerbate housing affordability and availability issues. These findings underscore the need for ongoing efforts to improve housing conditions and support for international students in Canadian cities.