It was impossible to glance in any direction at Canadore College's main campus as the school week opened without spotting a student trailing a suitcase behind them as they went through the orientation process.
Dozens of homeless international students with their belongings in tow have also been seen in the past week in the community, milling around shops in the McKeown Avenue corridor, asking strangers to rent them a room so they can go to school at Canadore.
The housing situation has led to demonstrations at Canadore's Commerce Court campus.
International students have also taken to door-knocking at family homes, essentially cold-calling in the hopes they will find a room for rent. This has been difficult in a city with a deep, existing housing crisis.
See: Letter: Canadore continues to attract foreign students knowing there is no housing available Letter: Canadore College must take responsibility for student housing crisis
See also: Letter: Canadore College must take responsibility for student housing crisis
And: Letter: International students let down by Canadore and federal government
A Canadore student in the health care field from Punjab, India, spoke to BayToday on the condition of anonymity. The 27-year-old male admitted he was one of those door knockers searching in the West Ferris area for lodging.
He says his accommodation situation is dire as he and three other East Indian students are each paying $700 per month to live in a Lakeshore Drive motel room with two beds and a kitchenette.
"Give us a chance," he says, appealing to potential local landlords. "That's all we can ask."
See: Homeless international students protesting at Canadore College
The international student says he knows of approximately 250 East Indians who are without proper or even any housing at all. He says he knows of 10 who have already returned to India. Students are facing a decision to withdraw and receive a partial refund by Sept. 18. This is not an option for many who are financially stretched and thousands of kilometres from home, he says.
A one-year, Canadore College personal support worker Ontario College Certificate program costs $4,477 (tuition, ancillary fees and material fee) for a domestic student. The cost for the same program for an international student is $17,144. If an international student withdraws within the first 10 days of the semester, they get a refund of approximately $2,422. No refunds are given after 10 days.
Those who cannot find places to live in North Bay find places in Sturgeon Falls or Sudbury, the students say. Some carpool a few days per week from Brampton and other GTA locales for their classes and drive back. International students have also taken to living in a house over capacity and have sleep schedules for a bed or two that a few of the roommates use in rotation.
A second male East Indian student, also speaking on the condition of anonymity and studying in the health care field, confirms the dire situation many are facing.
Due to student visa regulations, many can only work part-time or under the table. There is no available housing, he says. Add in the inflationary cost of just about everything, including groceries, utilities, and fuel and they are struggling to keep up.
Although the international students had no issues with the quality of the education they are receiving, they noted it is challenging to study due to the uncertainty of their precarious living situations. He adds he and others he knows have experienced price gouging for transportation in the GTA area and locally.
The second student says he paid the full freight at a local hotel for one week before he got emergency housing in the Canadore residence in September 2022. Living in residence helped him find suitable lodging for this school year.
Asked about agents brokered to bring students to Canadore, both acknowledge they made use of such a service. Both say they were not guaranteed accommodations by the school but, when asked, the agents made promises that were not entirely fulfilled.
Canadore College has made moves to increase its housing stock for students. It is clear there is not enough. An increase in admissions for international students during the pandemic — when students were permitted to access class materials remotely — has manifested itself to contribute to today's housing crisis now that students are once again required to attend in person.
See: Communities on the Move: Canadore College has a solution for North Bay's housing shortage
In August 2022, Canadore’s residence waitlist peaked at 120 students, including 14 families. The College estimates the renovated townhouses, combined with the off-campus space and the homestay program, will provide an additional 150-200 spaces for the fall 2023 semester.
Via a news release issued on Wednesday, Canadore Colleges states it has been "communicating with students since January about the realities of the local housing market, including the cost of rental accommodation.
"Some students have refused the housing options presented to them, but we continue to work with those who want assistance on a case-by-case basis to find housing. It is imperative that those who are still looking for accommodation connect with us.
"We still have emergency accommodation available, and we will have every student in permanent housing as soon as possible."
