"I think the worst case scenario is loss of life," said resident Kasia Devlin, who attended the rally. "There's going to be a fire and there's going to be a situation where someone can't get out, because the windows are not safe or there is no exit." Devlin underscored the urgent risks posed by illegal rooming houses, arguing that the government must invest in safer housing options to address these dangers.
Michelle Gauthier, who lives in Brampton and is a landlord herself, said about 30% of the houses on her street have turned into rentals and illegal rooming houses. "We really love that feeling of community, and we're afraid it's disappearing," she said, highlighting how the rise of illegal rentals threatens neighborhood cohesion and community safety.
Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown pointed out that the federal government's limits on international student visas have helped alleviate some of Brampton's housing issues. He also noted that the city's Residential Rental Licensing program has already led to 4,700 home inspections and over 600 penalty notices, an effort aimed at enforcing health and safety rules in rental units.
Many residents at the protest expressed their support for the city's Residential Rental Licensing program. This pilot project, launched earlier this year, seeks to tackle the rising problem of illegal rooming houses by ensuring compliance with health and safety standards.
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