Where to live when you can't find an affordable rental? For this woman — it's her SUV

Courtney Dahoy, 34, moved back to Calgary this summer for work, after a short period spent living in Camrose. 

So far, she said, the job is going well. But amid Calgary's tight rental market, the search for a place to live is not.

"You used to be able to find a room to rent for like $600, $500," said Dahoy, an artist with a day job in event set-up and tear-down. 

Nowadays, she said the going rate seems to be $800 or $900 — and sometimes, there's nothing available at all. 

"It's sometimes a little discouraging."

Dahoy is confident she'll find something sooner or later. But without a better option in front of her, she's now living out of her SUV. 

"I've camped before — so it's just a smaller camp space, and more city life," said Dahoy.

It's not a perfect situation, she said, but it's not that bad. Through a mix of internet research and trial and error, she has found parking lots throughout the city that are friendly to travellers and people living out of their cars. 

Plus, she said, she's not the only one out there. 

"It's almost like a trend these days," she said. 

It's a difficult trend to put into numbers. Data isn't tracked about the number of people in Calgary who don't have a fixed address and are instead couch surfing, sleeping in their cars or finding other temporary arrangements.

But anecdotal evidence suggests their numbers may be growing. 

The YWCA told CBC Calgary its outreach team has noticed more victims of domestic violence staying in their vehicles because there aren't enough affordable rentals.

Chaz Smith, with the street outreach organization BeTheChangeYYC, said he, too, is aware of people in this situation.