If you’re like the majority of Torontonians, rent is probably your biggest expense. As of February 2020, renters in Toronto spent an average of $2,349.07 per month on housing, a sum that requires a yearly income of at least $55,500 before tax in order to be sustainable (source). Toronto is one of the best cities in the world to live in...but we pay a hefty price for the privilege.
Drew Minns and Samaneh Sadaghiani feel that renters deserve to know what they’ll be spending most of their money on, and they passionately believe that safe housing is a human right. Last year, Drew found himself with some extra time to dedicate to an idea he’d had for several years, and, spurred by the spate of evictions brought on by the pandemic, he rallied three of his friends and colleagues to help make it a reality. The four of them put their skills together and built Good Neighbour, a website that allows renters to review their landlords and rental units. The idea is to arm potential tenants with the knowledge to make an informed decision about whether or not to rent a particular unit.
SCOPO sat down with Drew and Samaneh to talk about Good Neighbour, renter’s rights, the housing crisis, and what you can do right now to empower yourself and help your community strive towards safe and affordable housing for all. You can listen to our full interview here:
Do you have a story about a landlord or a rental unit? Help Drew and Samaneh help others by posting a review on Good Neighbour.
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SCOPO is dedicated to bringing you uplifting news. As a passion project of Imprint Marketing Group, it highlights the work of nonprofits, small businesses and creatives who are using their unique skills to help their communities.
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