London father remains in hospital as family struggles to find accessible housing

A London family is on a quest to find accessible housing so they can live together again — but the months-long search has come up dry, while a father of two is living in hospital. 

"I​​​​​​t's been a struggle," said Jody Davis, who has teenagers ages 13 and 15. "The sooner I have the place, the better it would be."

After a sudden brain aneurysm left him fighting for his life about 10 months ago, her husband, Eddie Lopez, 38, has been recovering in hospitals and is now at the Parkwood Institute. 

"If I had a place for my family to live and it was accessible for him, and had the things that we would need to be able to take care of him, he could probably come home," Davis said.

Months-long search for housing adds extra stress

Davis has spent about six months looking for an accessible one-floor rental with a stand-up shower in or near London's Westmount neighbourhood, so her kids can stay in their schools.  

The search for housing is causing extra stress for Davis.

"I really want to be able to bring him home and have him here with the kids," she said.

High prices are also a challenge since Davis said they are now relying soley on her income working in the insurance sector. They don't qualify for government assistance because he's a business-owner, she said, even though he isn't earning income while off-work.

"It's been a really long and tough road," said David. "We're just trying our best to push through and stay positive for him."

'It's a big issue,' says housing lawyer

The struggle to find affordable accessible housing is a hurdle Kristina Pagniello has seen in her work as the executive director of Neighbourhood Legal Services London and Middlesex.

"There's an overall shortage — and it's a crisis in terms of availability of affordable housing in London," she said.

"It's a big issue."

The average rent for a three-bedroom unit in London is $2,475, according to a Rentals.ca May 2023 report.

'He's such a strong man'

Just a year ago, Lopez could be found trimming hair at his Dundas Street barbershop, Elevated Barbers Inc., or serving his family's cheesy Salvadorian pupusas at Cheros House of Pupusas.

In August, the 38-year-old dad suffered from an aneurysm rupture while watching his daughter play soccer at a London TFC game while in Ottawa with his family. 

He's now talking and eating again, and moving his arms and legs, Davis said.

His friends and colleagues describe him as fun-loving and giving — a giant teddy bear who knows how to put a smile on their faces and shows up to volunteer and help the community. 

Lopez had been running his barbershop for four years and launched a Cheros House of Pupusas, a food truck and booth at Covent Garden Market.

It was his dream to run multiple businesses, Davis said. The barber shop is still running with other staff, but they had to make the unfortunate decision to sell the food business, with the hope of reopening one day. 

"He's such a strong man, and I know that he's going to come through this on the other side," Davis said. 

But right now, they just want to find a home to be together. 

"Hopefully, someone out there is able to help us find a place that'll be suitable to Eddie and our family so that we can just bring him home," she said.

"I just want to make him feel good and feel happy and and be able to be home with his family."