Navigating the housing crisis: A comparison of international students and other newcomers in a mid‐sized Canadian city

Abstract This article investigates the housing experiences of international students in comparison to other newcomers in the mid‐sized Canadian city of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, with a focus on how they navigate housing crises. Drawing on recent literature on housing justice, a qua...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian Geographies / Géographies canadiennes
Main Authors: Pottie‐Sherman, Yolande, Christensen, Julia, Foroutan, Maryam, Zhou, Siyi
Other Authors: Ocean Frontier Institute
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2023
Subjects:
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/cag.12869
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/cag.12869
Description
Summary:Abstract This article investigates the housing experiences of international students in comparison to other newcomers in the mid‐sized Canadian city of St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, with a focus on how they navigate housing crises. Drawing on recent literature on housing justice, a quantitative survey of 188 participants, and 30 qualitative interviews, the findings reveal that international students and other newcomers are at different stages of their housing careers, have different needs and goals, and are experiencing the affordability crisis differently. Housing discrimination is a pressing concern, especially for international students who are subjected to intersectional prejudice, exploitation by landlords, and amplified challenges due to the COVID‐19 pandemic. The article argues for inclusive housing and immigration policies that acknowledge international students as part of the Canadian housing market and ensure their rights to housing .