While loving your significant other doesn’t mean you have to spend every moment of every day with them, sometimes there is no other choice.

Trying to make love and relationships work under tight housing conditions can be a hurdle for some low-income earners.

In rooming houses people are seldom found alone. This constant togetherness can have repercussions on a person, their neighbours and community, and even their romantic partner.

“It was loud, a lot of screaming and kids running around at irregular hours,” Lisa Heynen said of her experience living in a low-income housing unit.

Heynen said altercations between couples and friends in the building often became public. Clearing the air could sometimes get tricky.

“When my roommate had words with the neighbours to be quiet, they’d be quite negative.”

Those living in these confined places have no proper place to vent. They often have to resort to other sources of release, which sometimes leads towards vandalism.

“It was a nice neighbourhood, but the bus shack was always shattered, there was graffiti all around, and misplaced couches,” Heynen said.

Don Miedema, housing co-ordinator for Spence Neighbourhood Association, understands this problem.

“Close quarters leads to friction,” he said.

Miedema nonetheless sees an opportunity in this situation.

“People get to know their neighbours. Block co-ordinators bring people together. They [tenants] generally know each other better than in the suburbs.”

When tempers run high, there is always the option of drop-in centres.

“Just to get out and get away, there’re a number of places people can go, a positive switch when problems arise,” Miedema said.

There are many drop-in centres all over Winnipeg. Ingrid Peters Derry is a worker at St. Matthew’s Anglican Church drop-in centre.

Peters Derry thinks the main problem stems from the city’s lack of affordable rental housing.

“I think it’s not with the people, it’s with frustration in housing. Most people can’t afford good housing.”

She finds a lot of people come in to the centre as a respite from rooming houses.

“A lot of people do come here, for social interaction. It gives another outlet and different walls to look at.”

Published in Volume 63, Number 21 of The Uniter (February 26, 2009)