Day 9: A Roof Over Their Heads

Wish 9: Affordable Housing

Calgary in Alberta, Canada, is becoming the country's richest, thanks to the city's predominantly oil-based businesses. Known to locals as Cow Town, the city grows by leaps and bounds - it has become a boom town. Urban sprawl appears in its perimeters. New shopping centers are built. New house prices have doubled in the past two years.

Despite this economic prosperity, there is a labor shortage. This should be good, you may think, because almost anyone can get a job. But even with starting salaries at 20% above other cities in Canada, there are few takers. Local businesses are wondering why this is happening, some of whom have had to shut down a few days at a time. But for a visitor like me, the reason is clear.

How can a town attract entry-level workers when all their salary would go into housing?

In many cities of North America, the cost of having a roof over your head is rising. And affordable rental places are disappearing in favor of more profitable condominium projects. In order to have a safe place to live, low wage earners have less to spend on food. This is surprising: In 2003, nearly one in four children in British Columbia was living in poverty.

Sustainable cities have to consider all kinds of housing so that there is something for everyone. My wish is for local governments, developers and non-governmental organizations to find solutions to keeping everyone safe from the elements.