My name is Jack Sandor, and I’m running for Victoria city council.

I'm a 27-year-old Red Seal electrician who has served in leadership roles with local housing and public transit advocacy organizations. Through my work as an electrician, I've helped build everything from deeply subsidized seniors housing to condos, townhomes, luxury homes, and even a hospital. I grew up in Gonzales on Warren Gardens and attended Margaret Jenkins, Central, and Oak Bay for elementary, middle, and high school.

When I moved out on my own, I couldn't afford to stay in Victoria. I bounced around a few places in Saanich before ending up in a small, run-down house in Gordon Head that I shared with four friends. It wasn't much, but the rent was low enough that I could make it work.

More recently, I made the decision to move back to the city I love. I now live near Stadacona Park on the edge of Fernwood. I love the neighborhood, but my rent is more than double what I was paying before.

My fiancée and I have put down roots here, and every Monday evening we volunteer at the Fernwood NRG Community Dinner. It's a small way to give back to a community that's welcomed us, and it's become one of the highlights of our week.

Like many people my age, I'd like to own a home and start a family one day. But despite my fiancée and I both earning good incomes and living fairly frugally (my car is as old as I am), even a modest condo would stretch our finances far beyond comfort. Right now, we simply don't see a realistic path to homeownership. Unfortunately, we're far from alone. A lot of people my age are in the same position: working hard, contributing to their communities, and still unable to afford to put down roots in the city they call home.