Nanaimo-bound U.S. healthcare workers facing rental housing roadblock

“I’ve posted cute pictures of my dogs, I explain how I manage them, I’ve got references, and I’m willing to pay pet fees. I’m a healthcare professional, I’m networking among other healthcare professionals without housing and reaching out to their leads and just not having any love as of right now. I’m landing in less than two months, and you know it can be very scary moving across country to a new country and not having a place to live.”

Lee is not alone.

She’s among a growing group of American healthcare professionals who’ve uprooted their lives in pursuit of a safer environment, better working conditions, and a sense of adventure in Nanaimo and the surrounding area.

Inspired by a pair of Nanaimo Infusion events, led by Tod and Jocelyn Maffin, Lee attended the one in April and was able to make some connections, cementing her goals of moving.

“The people of Nanaimo have been so generous and so kind when we’ve been there that you know something will come through for me and the other health care workers that are coming. Everybody loves animals, and there’s just got to be something out there for us that is okay for animals.”

Without a rental, Lee joked about crashing at the Maffin’s home but said her realistic plan is to find an Airbnb rental while she looks in person.

Leaving behind her two dogs in Wisconsin was not an option for Amy Miller, who moved with her family to Nanaimo at the start of the year. Finding housing was extra difficult with a bigger family and two pets. (Image Credit: Amy Miller)

Establishing local relationships appears to be a solution, at least for some.

Amy Miller is another nurse practitioner who moved to the region at the end of January and is working at a clinic in Nanaimo.

Currently in a short-term rental in Ladysmith, she, her family, and their two dogs will move into a longer-term home in Nanaimo on June 1.

“We’re a larger family, and we wanted to have a good amount of space. Finding a larger rental is hard enough as it is, they’re really quite rare. In a month…there’s maybe a dozen or so three bedrooms, but there’s only like two or three four bedrooms or larger houses that pop up on the market in this whole area.”

Miller told NanaimoNewsNOW adding in pets makes an already difficult search significantly harder.

“I understand that there is an inherent risk that comes with having pets…but if my pets damage something, whether it’s in the house that I own or a house that I’m renting, it’s my responsibility, because those [pets] are my responsibility, to fix those things, that’s what the security deposit is for.”

Ultimately, some creative thinking and work to establish relationships with people in the community led to the family moving into their long-term rental this month.

Miller said arranging meetings with landlords face-to-face helped alleviate some of their concerns and led to a favourable outcome.

“We put together referrals specifically for our dogs from the people that had watched our dogs when we were away on vacation, our veterinarian, and our neighbour. Just a letter saying what their behaviour is like, how they get along with people, how they get along with other pets, I think the vet included that we were responsible pet owners. Whether or not people actually look at those documents, I think it’s helpful to have put them together. It shows effort.”

She said landlords will play a role in ensuring the success of the healthcare infusion continues, and workers are able to find places to stay while they serve thousands awaiting care.

“If you want to build a community and help build the healthcare network in our community, I think you need to give people a chance. People can’t come here and work if they don’t have a place to live, and most will not move if they have to leave some of their family behind.”

Advocacy and a provincial promise

The BC NDP made a campaign promise during the 2024 election to “end bias against pet owners in purpose-built rental housing.”

In a statement from the Ministry of Housing and Municipal Affairs, the province said they understand the challenges renters with pets are facing, however landlord rights also need to be factored in.

“We acknowledge the concerns raised related to property damage, noise, health, and safety. These are also important considerations, especially as we continue to focus on increasing the supply of rental housing and supporting a healthy rental market.”

The statement said the province is “exploring options for pet policies in purpose-built rental buildings,” and the Residential Tenancy Branch is seeking ways to “make pet-friendly housing more accessible, while also striking the right balance between the rights and responsibilities of both tenants and landlords.”

Pressure on the province was applied in early April by the BC SPCA and First United Church Community Ministry Society in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

Both groups called for action on the campaign promise, with First United forwarding a series of recommended amendments to the Residential Tenancy Act to ban pet restrictions in purpose-built rental buildings with five or more units.

Sarah Herring, SPCA’s senior officer of government relations, said they’ve advocated for these changes for nearly 20 years, and partnering with First United was an opportunity to reignite the topic.

She added over 12,000 animals have been surrendered at BC SPCA facilities since 2014, for the sole reason of owners being unable to find rental housing which allowed pets.

“They don’t need to be at the BC SPCA. They have families that love them and that want to continue caring for them, but they simply can’t find housing. We know that the real number of housing-related surrenders is probably a lot higher, because…those aren’t animals going to other rescue organizations, or ones that are rehomed privately, or sadly abandoned.”

Herring said while they would love to see more widespread changes to cover all rentals, their work initially is focusing on purpose-built rental buildings and not necessarily on private landlords renting basements or other suites.

The province responded to both groups earlier this year, Herring said, again affirming they are working on the issue, but without providing any specifics.

Herring noted a “common feeling” among landlords regarding pets causing extensive damage to homes, however data sourced by First United looked at all pet-related damage claims filed to the Residential Tenancy Board since 2018.

Approximately 82 per cent of all cases saw the cost of repair fully covered by already-paid damage deposits.

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by Alex Rawnsley

Nanaimo-bound U.S. healthcare workers facing rental housing roadblock

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