HOUSING CRISIS: Penticton man stuck between homelessness and housed

There’s a level of poverty between homeless and housed, and Mike Schreiber from Penticton can't escape it.

Schreiber has a roof over his head when he sleeps, as well as access to a washroom, laundry and kitchen.

But he sleeps under the roof of a porch, on a reclining chair.

“It’s challenging if you want to live on your own out here, you can’t do it,” he said.

Supportive housing is an affordable option for Schreiber, which he says costs about $800 per month for a room. But the shared accommodations are a challenge.

“Call me stubborn,” he said. “But people out here are crazy and (living at shelters) never turned out well.”

READ MORE: Kelowna's homeless population expected to double by 2026

The 45-year-old man, who moved to Penticton in 2016, realizes how much his preferences limit his options in a city with such a high cost of living.

The private space Schreiber has now, albeit a porch, belongs to an employer who he works for.

Camping is not an ideal option either. 

“The whole tent thing, there’s just no point in that because of bylaw hassling you, and then having to share space with all the other hooligans who don’t work and just cause grief for this town.”

Schreiber was candid about his substance use.

“Yes I am a drug user. Not going to say I’m addicted. I smoke marijuana daily. The odd time I will touch hard stuff. But I go to work and pay my bills.”

He takes pride in his ability to be self-sufficient.

“I don’t like to rely on (employment insurance) or soup kitchens, I like to be able to take care of myself the best I can.”

READ MORE: How Penticton's homeless people cope at -20 C at night

He came close to having his own bedroom again for the first time in two years, and didn’t mind that he would be living with a roommate.

Schreiber was working full time in hospitality and as a general labourer. After two years of couch surfing, he said he found a bedroom to sublet for $800 a month in an acquaintance’s apartment. But after failing to pay the final $200 by the second day of the month, the woman didn’t let him move in and kept the $600 because the agreement had been broken.

He expected at least some of the $600 to be returned but he was blocked from communicating with her.

“Six-hundred dollars is a lot of money especially when you’re accustomed to living paycheque to paycheque.”

Schreiber contacted the RCMP but said it was not a matter they were able to help with.

READ MORE: Penticton youth resort to desperate measures to avoid homelessness

Schreiber hopes to challenge the woman in small claims court, but first he has to come up with $75 to cover the filing fee.

And money is extra tight right now – Schreiber suffered a serious leg injured after wiping out on his bike in July, and now he is only able to work part-time.

Once he gets back to work he will begin looking for another affordable room to rent. 

“The only way for someone to make it in this city is to start out small, rent out a bedroom and work your way up."

—This story was corrected at 9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 5, 2022, to say Mike Schreiber lives in Penticton and not Kelowna.

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