Community Stories: Meet Paul
Paul is a fairly new resident, having lived with NHA for about 9 months now! We thought it would be exciting to get his perspective on finding accommodations in Calgary and living with NHA as a relative newcomer. Paul has been an involved and committed community member since he arrived and we’re thrilled he makes his home with us :)
Tell us a bit about yourself!
I am from Campbell River on Vancouver Island originally, it was a great place to grow up right beside the ocean. I moved to Calgary from Vancouver for my work, I was a flight attendant for many years and I am still working in an aviation related job, just not up in the sky anymore. I don't have any pets although I would like to eventually have a cat.
How did you find out about Norfolk Housing Association (NHA) and why did you choose to live here?
I didn't know about Norfolk Housing Association until I viewed an apartment in a Norfolk building. It was actually the first apartment I looked at in Calgary. After learning about Norfolk Housing Association I knew it was the place for me, and I wanted to be a resident and a part of the community.
In Vancouver I struggled with housing security over the years, I had two apartments that I lived in torn down and redeveloped. Each time I had to tear up my roots, scramble to find new housing, and move from my home and community and start new, it was also difficult financially. In many ways after my experiences with housing in the past I feel Norfolk Housing Association found me.
Has living in a diverse, inclusive community had an impact on your life and if so, would you describe it?
I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. I feel totally welcomed here and a part of a community. I feel secure and safe here at Norfolk, and in my building. I think it's really important for housing to have diversity and inclusivity that's how communities are built.
What’s one thing you wish people understood about housing, whether affordable housing or just more generally?
Housing accessibility and quality are determinates of health. In the past I had to sacrifice quality of housing due to affordability issues, and I lived with conditions such as damp, mold, pests, no control of the heat, even water leaking into my bedroom when it rained. Many times I wondered if I could find housing that I could afford - I felt so unstable and insecure. Everyone deserves safe, accessible, stable housing that they can afford so that they can thrive and be healthy.
What’s your favourite thing to do, see, or visit in the neighbourhood?
I love to visit my community garden. I also like to walk around Sunnyside and see all of the painted garages and fences.
What’s your superpower?
Resilience. It may sound strange, but I think resilience is a really important superpower.