Facing the imminent threat of homelessness, Tristen Keats, a 27-year-old single father from St. John’s and his three-year-old son Jacoby are on the verge of being rendered homeless due to limited housing options for families with children. Presently, they reside in a cramped basement flat, which is only advertised for a single tenant, with Tristen’s mother. The harsh reality of people residing in tents on the side of the street is not far off for Tristen and Jacoby as they have been given limited time to secure alternative accommodation by their current landlord.
This predicament is not unique to Tristen and Jacoby. The housing crisis is a nationwide issue, particularly affecting Newfoundland and Labrador. Social housing and emergency shelters are in high demand, forcing many to resort to living in tents in public areas around St. John’s.
The situation becomes even more challenging when children are involved. Abbey Quinlan, the Employment Services Lead at the Single Parent Association of Newfoundland and Labrador, confirmed that the demand for their services, including their food bank, is escalating rapidly. She highlighted the significant impact this situation has on single parents, who are struggling to provide for their children.
Tristen, who has overcome personal struggles with addiction in his past, fears that his current housing situation threatens the progress he has made in his recovery. He admits to having been ill-prepared when he first became a father at 17 and subsequently became homeless at 18. However, Jacoby’s birth three years ago motivated him to sober up and take up full-time parenting duties.
Currently, Tristen is exploring three housing options: private rentals, government housing, and emergency shelters. Despite numerous attempts to secure a private rental, he has had no success, attributing his failure to secure a property to his reliance on income support.
Government housing, provided by the Newfoundland and Labrador Housing Corporation, is another option. However, the waiting list is almost 1,000 people long, and Tristen has been told it could take up to three years to secure a property.
The third and final option is an emergency shelter. However, these are becoming increasingly difficult to secure and do not accommodate children. While St. John’s does have shelters for women and children experiencing domestic violence, single parents like Tristen have limited options. To secure a bed, parents may have to give up custody, a heartbreaking decision no parent should have to face.
Tristen is resolved that if his circumstances do not improve, he may have to resort to living in a tent. He is adamant, however, that he will not subject his son to this harsh reality. He declared, “I don’t care if it was me. I’ve done that before in my life. My worry is him. He can’t sleep outside every day. I’ll figure that out and I’ll sleep outside. But it won’t be him.”
