The Vanderweerd family is facing eviction from their Colwood home on Saturday, two months after receiving an unexpected eviction notice.
After six years in this Colwood bungalow, they have just three days to finish packing their belongings before they have to be out and the family still has no place to live despite several months of searching.
The sisters received an eviction notice in February after their landlord sold the house and on Saturday they have to be out to make way for the new owner.
“Coming to the conclusion that we are going to be homeless. There are no whens, ifs or doubts about it. We’ve gone over and above. We’ve done so much research, and talking to the ministry, reaching out with no, nothing positive yet,” said Heather Vanderweerd.
According to the CMHC, the vacancy rate on the West Shore is .04 per cent, and the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $1,571.
They applied to BC Housing but were told nothing is available. They reached out to their MLA, Mitzi Dean, but did not receive a response.
Christine Vanderweerd said they have reached the end of their rope.
“It’s the fact that we’re going to be homeless in three days, you know so it’s pretty scary having to go someplace with your two cats, and where are you going to go?” she tells CHEK News.
Both women receive monthly disability payments, as does Christine’s 20-year-old son, Joshua, who also lives in the home.
One offer came in for a two-bedroom apartment, but that didn’t include Joshua.
Another suggestion was for Heather, who was diagnosed with stage four metastatic cancer in June 2020, to move to hospice care, but Christine said that’s not an option.
“I don’t want to lose her, and with this stress, they want to separate us. I don’t want to lose her. And it’s getting really hard right now. I’m supposed to be the head of the family, and I can’t even support my family right now. I can’t house them,” Christine said.
If something doesn’t come through for the Vanderweerds, they will store most of their belongings, and continue looking while living in a hotel, if they can find one.
CHEK News reached out to BC Housing, who provided the following response on the situation.
“BC Housing is very sorry to hear about the situation Heather and her family are in. We never want to see anyone without a safe and secure place to live. While we did not have an active housing application on file, we are in the process of connecting with Heather to help her find suitable housing,” reads a statement from BC Housing.
“Subsidized housing in B.C. is based on housing need, not length of time on a waitlist. This includes seniors, low-income single parents with children, and low-income people with physical or mental disabilities. People experiencing or at risk of homelessness are also supported. For this reason, it is important that people who are registered in the Housing Registry database “check-in” every six months to keep their file up to date with any changes to their circumstances and current contact information, and advise us if their housing situation has become urgent.”
Mary Griffin
