When a family arrived at the Welcome Centre with several children and three large dogs, it quickly became clear that finding housing wouldn’t be a straightforward task. They needed a place that was not only large enough to accommodate everyone but also affordable, pet-friendly, and accessible on a tight and unpredictable budget.
Their story is far from unique in the housing support system, but the combination of challenges they faced made their case particularly difficult. A large household size, limited and fluctuating income, health barriers, poor credit, and the presence of pets are all common obstacles for many trying to secure rental housing.
“We’ve been here since February 15,” the father explained. “My girlfriend’s dad got mad because the police removed him from the house. He was doing cocaine and bringing prostitutes into the house with my children. So they kicked him out, and then we ended up getting him charged with putting a GPS tracker on his ex-wife’s car. So he served us with an N12 and got us out of there.”
In Ontario, an N12 form is a type of eviction notice a landlord can issue when they, or a qualifying family member, plans to move into the rental unit and use it as their own home. It’s considered a “no-fault” eviction, meaning the tenant hasn’t done anything wrong. However, that doesn’t stop the landlord from legally ending the tenancy for personal use of the property.
Usually, after receiving an N12, the tenant is given a period to help find and prepare for new housing. However, due to the intervention of the OPP (Ontario Provincial Police), this family was required to leave the rental unit immediately.
“Because of the safety of our children, the OPP got us out of there, and that’s how we were able to get into the shelter,” said the father.
The process began with establishing a budget. The shelter worker assigned to them is tasked with calculating the family’s total monthly income, subtracting fixed expenses, and then determining how much they could realistically spend on rent. Their income primarily came from Ontario Works (OW), with part-time wages that varied from week to week; the caseworker reviewed bank statements over several months to estimate an average monthly income. To avoid risking housing stability if work hours dropped, they decided to base their rental budget on the OW income, the lowest but most reliable figure.
“My wife works part-time,” the client said. “I have a degenerative disease and severe pain, fibromyalgia, and arthritis. I’m getting a part-time job to drive the school bus because I know I can handle that, at least. I start classes in June. I have two weeks of in-class training to complete my B-class license, and then I have to complete two weeks of bus training. So I’ll start in September.”
With the budget set, the search for a suitable home began. The team scoured rental listings daily on platforms like Facebook Marketplace, Kijiji, and Zillow. But finding the right fit was anything but easy. Many landlords were reluctant to rent to large families, especially those with pets and low credit scores.
Another layer of stress in the housing search is the intense competition—each listing often draws multiple applicants. Even the most promising leads can collapse unexpectedly, often for reasons beyond your control. Discrimination has also emerged as a common barrier in the area, with some landlords favoring certain tenants over others.
“It’s ridiculous, and it’s a lot of people from Toronto or out of the city who own the houses, or they’re looking for certain races,” the client explained. “And then we’ve been to some places where the landlord was turning the basement into an illegal unit, and he said that they were gonna put locks on the thermometer so you can’t control the temperature.”
Adding to the difficulty, many landlords had strict no-pet policies. “It’s not just one small dog—they have three large dogs,” the caseworker explained.
To navigate this, clients are sometimes advised not to disclose their pets unless directly asked—a complex and delicate balance in a system with limited options.
As a result, many families feel pressured to withhold certain details to increase their chances of securing a home.
Even when a potential unit is found, applications often end up encountering roadblocks. Many landlords are cautious about the family size, inconsistent income, and the presence of pets. On occasion, when a family mentioned the full number of children or animals during viewings, landlords immediately rejected the application. To help fit these circumstances, clients may need to remain vague about the details of their family’s situation.
Eventually, a bit of luck came into play with this particular case; the shelter was connected with a landlord known for being flexible and willing to work with families in challenging positions. This relationship made all the difference, allowing the family to finally secure a lease.
“We found a place now; we’re moving on June 1,” the client said. “And it’s in this area, just down the road. I’m happy we were able to find something affordable. The shelter has been very resourceful, even for my kids.”
While the apartment wasn’t perfect, it was a significant step forward and an opportunity to return to stable housing.
“Our new place is not what we were looking for. It’s an apartment, so we don’t really have a basement, and we have to pay for the laundry. But the lady who was managing the property went to bat for us to get us this place, and then she said, after a year’s lease, she’d get us into a house. It’s doable.”
Once a lease is signed, the practicalities of moving begin. Luckily, this family had access to a vehicle, which gave them some independence in organizing their move. However, if this weren’t the case, the housing workers would continue to assist in coordinating the move-in process. If the move-in day fell on a weekend when shelter staff weren’t available, the caseworker prepared everything in advance—food, essential household items, hygiene kits, bedding, and furniture gift cards from Habitat for Humanity. On moving day, the staff helps coordinate the transportation of belongings and family members, using a shelter van when needed to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible.
Securing a unit wasn’t the final step. Before discharge, staff connected the family to job programs, healthcare, and food assistance. The shelter experience left emotional scars, especially on the kids.
“My kids are emotional being in a shelter, but they like the kid’s program,” said the father. “One of my kids has gotten himself in trouble a few different times since we’ve been here. It’s just taking a toll because, you know, you got to be in by a specific time. You can’t go out and do certain things. You have people constantly coming in doing room checks. Shelter takes a toll on the kid.”
Their journey reflects the layered challenges many families face while securing housing. It also shows the critical role support workers and compassionate landlords play. Budget limits, large families, pets, poor credit, and unstable income create complex barriers. Still, with patience, planning, and luck, families like this can find a place to call home.
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