Experts familiar with the housing shortage in New Brunswick suggest that rooming houses could offer a solution, but the availability of this once-popular low-cost housing option is decreasing.
The former Sunset Hotel in Moncton, owned by New Brunswick Housing, is set for demolition this fall, according to a spokesperson, Adam Bowie.
Located at 162 Queen St., the century-old building has been deteriorating, leading to safety and security concerns for tenants, including non-resident squatters and intermittent hot water supply issues.
Julia Woodhall-Melnik, a social sciences professor at the University of New Brunswick, notes that rooming houses were historically popular among single working individuals, especially during the Second World War era.
Often referred to as co-housing or single-room occupancies (SROs), rooming houses entail shared living spaces like kitchens and bathrooms among three or more unrelated occupants, each with their private living area.
While the exact number of tenants at the Sunset Hotel was not disclosed, they were provided with a 90-day notice and assistance in securing alternative accommodations.
One former resident, Robert MacKay, described the Sunset Hotel as an affordable and vibrant community hub that catered to the needs of downtown Moncton residents.
Woodhall-Melnik highlights that rooming house rents are generally lower than apartment rents, typically ranging from $500 to $800 in Saint John, for instance.
Following the demolition of the Sunset Hotel, plans are in place to construct a new building with 31 affordable units, including 11 designed to be more accessible, as mentioned by Bowie.
While the specifics of the new building have not been revealed, rooming houses are among the various housing options being considered to address the housing crisis.
Woodhall-Melnik advocates for rooming houses, citing research that has shown positive outcomes for individuals in communal living situations.
She recounts a case where a person’s health significantly improved after moving into a shared living arrangement, emphasizing the importance of social interactions for some individuals.
While acknowledging the benefits of rooming houses, Woodhall-Melnik also points out challenges related to managing interpersonal dynamics and property maintenance in shared housing environments.
The Sunset Hotel is among several rooming houses in the province that have closed in recent years, with no definitive count available due to the lack of a comprehensive rental registry, according to Bowie.