Have you taken time in the recent weeks to reflect upon all the things you have to be thankful for? Many of us (myself included) take for granted the fact that we have a roof over our head and a warm place to sleep at night. December 3 is “ROOF OVER YOUR HEAD DAY” – a day for all to not only be reminded of how very lucky those who own a home are but to also draw our attention to those who are less fortunate and without a roof over their heads. I spend time everyday assisting individual through the home buying process and understand the importance and the deeper meaning behind having a home. During this time of year, when the temperatures are cooler, I am especially thankful to have a roof over my head protecting me from the elements.
We might not all live in our dream home or have everything that was on our wish list when we purchased a property but for those of us that enjoy the many benefits of homeownership, let us take some time to be reminded of how very blessed we are!
In this weeks blog, I would like to add some awareness to the ever growing homelessness issue that many Canadians are dealing with on a daily basis. You see, before I became a Realtor, I worked as a Social Worker and had the opportunity to helping many folks in London Ontario who were not housed. Homelessness is a complex issue with many causes. One of the core reasons, people find themself homelessness is due to poverty. 1 in 7 Canadians live in poverty, this is as many as 4.8 Million folks that struggle on a regular basis for the basic necessities of life.
A recent study by The Homeless Hub gives a great over view of THE STATE OF HOMELESSNESS IN CANADA
The full report as well as a great info graphic is available by clicking the above link. Some of the key points that I would like to draw your attention to are as follows;
- 35,000 Canadians are homeless on a given night
- 235,000 Canadians experience homelessness in a year
- Homelessness costs the Canadian Economy $7 BILLION annually
- Nearly 1/3 homes in Canada are renter occupied
- The median family income for those folks who own a home is $74,640… for those who rent it is $37,100
May we take a few moments today to recognize the comfort provided by having shelter and a roof over our head and be thankful for a place to call home.
Home ownership lies at the very heart of the American dream… It is my blessing that a dream has come true for me, and it is my responsibility to help the dream come true for other’s ~ Mel Martinez
