In an effort to increase the amount of secure, reasonably priced student housing available in Canada, a homesharing platform and an international health insurance provider have partnered.
Guard.me and SpacesShared have partnered to enable senior citizens to co-develop new products and share their spare bedrooms with students. Like many of its rival nations, the study destination has experienced a scarcity of beds in major cities for international students.
Keith Segal, president and global CEO of guard.me, stated, “We share SpacesShared’s mission of helping people make a difference in their lives.”
“We hear from our partners and the students we support about the need for more safe and affordable housing options, so when we learned about SpacesShared, we knew we wanted to be involved. Because this project also provides a new way for older adults to age in place, it is truly a win-win for Canada.”
In order to further its objective across Canada, SpacesShared will grow its staff and improve its technology, and the partners will also conduct research on housing-related topics.
“From our first host to our most recent, we have been so humbled and encouraged by the growing community response – from students who understand the value and opportunity that comes from living and learning from an older adult, to hosts who understand the challenges students face in finding safe and affordable housing,” said Rylan Kinnon, CEO and co-founder of SpacesShared.
“Guard.me is a natural partner for us as we expand and enhance our platform to be as safe and sustainable as possible because of their reputation as a collaborative partner and problem solver in the postsecondary sector.”
In the upcoming months, prospective homeowners who are willing to serve as hosts as well as interested postsecondary institutions across Canada will be contacted by guard.me and SpacesShared.