GuelphToday received the following letter to the editor from university student Helene Carle regarding a recent article outlining the current student housing crisis.
As a third year student, my sympathies are with those trying to find housing in Guelph for this coming school year. The university, and by relation, the city, have failed to place those placed in Guelph for their studies.
It is clear that the University of Guelph is becoming more and more popular, which brings great attraction to the City of Guelph itself and its businesses. However, it is even more obvious that the housing crisis has not been taken care of, with some students paying more than $1,000 a month for a room. Supply is short, and with demand being this high, prices are bound to skyrocket.
High prices and unaffordable living is not a great business plan for the city. It is in my opinion that the university should have worked with the city to have better planned for the large influx of students into the community this year. Many are going to be left in financial hardship. Small businesses are going to suffer, while big box stores are going to thrive with additional students in the area.
In my eyes, Guelph is looking much more like big city living, and not in a good way.
Helene Carle, Guelph