Airbnb saved my life

It was about four years ago. A bad injury left me unable to work, and I was forced to find a way to make ends meet.

I was depressed, contemplating suicide, and unsure if I would make it another day. I was living in pain, drowning in debt and unable to provide the basics for my family. Fortunately, I found an answer in Airbnb.

By renting out my home and moving in with family, I was able to earn enough money to get by, recover from my injury and eventually be able to start to paying off some debt once I was back at work. Four years later, I have paid back my debt and started saving again. Without the extra income I got from my Airbnb rental, I don’t think I would be here to write this letter.

It upsets me to see how our city has painted Airbnb hosts like myself as an evil force in the community who are driving up rents and putting families out on the streets. From my experience, I can tell you that without Airbnb, me and my family would have been out on the streets ourselves. The average host on Airbnb brings in less than $5,000 per year – enough to take their own family on a vacation or help make living in our city more affordable.

It is a myth that people are getting rich on Airbnb. “Rich” people do not let strangers into their homes to earn a few extra bucks.

Through renting my home on Airbnb, I have met lots of other hosts. They range from families renting their basement suite to help pay for the costs of child care to retirees struggling to keep the property they have lived in for decades.

I believe the City of Kelowna has the best intentions. They want to improve housing affordability, but this is not the right solution. They don’t realize that by restricting, and in some cases banning Airbnb, they are hurting the very people they are trying to help.

The proposed $345 fee for owner-occupied units is nothing more than a cash grab, seven times more expensive than the same fee in Vancouver.

Marty Street