From Muskoka Unlimited: Third party will charge fees to list properties for rent targeted for healthcare workers
From MuskokaUnlimited.com:
In a move almost certain to reduce the number of housing units available for healthcare workers to rent, Muskoka Algonquin Healthcare (MAHC) announced that as of today (June 1, 2023), a third party will be managing their Housing for Healthcare workers program.
Well, it was less an announcement than an email to all those who listed rooms, apartments, or homes for rent through the program, which was launched in October. This writer and his family participated and are housing a healthcare intern for a couple of months (at a very, very good deal according to the numbers being listed).
According to the email that was sent of behalf of Brody Purser, Associate Vice President of People for MAHC, over 300 housing options were submitted by landlords throughout Muskoka allowing for more housing access for healthcare workers than “ever before.”
“We are aware of at least 15 matches where a healthcare worker was matched to housing using this program,” the email read. “We suspect many more applicants also utilized this program in finding housing however, we didn’t always get confirmation if a connection was made or not. The program had some wonderful successes but also came with some challenges that were unexpected and learned along the way.”
Challenges the program faced included many landlords charging monthly rates that were more than the healthcare workers could afford to pay, which was stated as between $1,500 and $2,000.
Too many options for housing outside the town cores in Huntsville and Bracebridge, causing transportation issues for those coming from cities where public transportation and active transportation are a way of life. Combine that with high gas prices, and living out of town isn’t a viable option.
The last challenge they claimed causing MAHC to use a third party to manage the program is the management of the over 300 landlords participating and the hundreds of applicants inquiring.
“It became time-consuming trying to keep up with all the requests/questions about the program,” according to Purser’s email.
Read more about the changes, as well as the fees to list a property at: https://muskokaunlimited.com/2023/06/01/housing-for-healthcare-program-changes/
