Dear editor,
NDP opposition finance critic Shannon Phillips stated that Smith’s affordability programs "are spread unequally among Albertans with youth and children-less couples among those excluded." She failed to say all singles ages 19 to 64 are excluded.
A double minimum-wage couple’s gross annual income of $60,000 (based on 2,000 working hours per person) has considerably more financial power than a single person with a $30,000 minimum wage gross income, particularly for rent.
In Calgary, a studio apartment is now renting at around $900 monthly. A Dec. 15 Calgary Herald article stated the average cost now for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,710, and a two-bedroom is $2,090 (these are 8.3 and 11.7 per cent increases, respectively, compared to last year.
Mathematically challenged opiners say all singles need to do is “shack up” to save on rent. One bedroom at $850 per person requires sharing of a bedroom or one person sleeping on the couch.
My question is, for how long do you think singles should couch-surf? This certainly isn’t appropriate housing for older singles. A two-bedroom apartment at $2,090 a month divided by two doesn’t save any money. In fact, it costs even more.
Apparently it’s unprincipled for politicians regardless of party and families to say the word “single” or “individual.” Do the math or include them in affordability programs.
Lin Gackle
Sunset
