An international student health insurance provider has partnered with a homesharing platform in Canada in a bid to boost the supply of safe, affordable student housing in the country.
guard.me has teamed up with SpacesShared to allow older adults to share their spare bedrooms with students and co-develop new products. The study destination has seen, like many other competitor countries, a shortage of beds for international students in large metropolitan regions.
“Our purpose is to help make a difference in people’s lives — a value we share with SpacesShared,” said Keith Segal, president and Global CEO of guard.me.
“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.”
The partners will additionally carry out research on issues affecting housing, while SpacesShared will expand its team and enhance its technology to advance its mission across Canada.
“We have been so encouraged and humbled by the growing community response”
“From our first host to our most recent, we have been so encouraged and humbled by the growing community response – from hosts who understand the challenges students face in accessing safe and affordable housing, and from students who understand the value and opportunity that comes from living and learning from an older adult,” said Rylan Kinnon, CEO and co-founder of SpacesShared.
“Guard.me’s reputation as a collaborative partner and problem solver in the postsecondary sector makes them a natural partner for us as we expand and enhance our platform to be as safe and sustainable as possible.”
In the coming months, guard.me and SpacesShared will engage interested postsecondary schools across Canada, as well as prospective homeowners who can act as hosts.
