When we talk about our executive suites and corporate housing, we tend to focus on the positive: The professionals who have been seconded to Toronto for a few months for a fantastic career opportunity; the families who take a suite for a month or two to be closer to relatives in the summer; the companies who keep a suite on-call downtown for corporate events. All that stuff sounds great.
But the truth is there’s another group of clients we don’t talk about very often: Recently separated or divorced parents, who need a transitional space.
No one likes to talk about divorce. Sure, most of us don’t judge our friends or family members for splitting up with their spouse any more, but the subject is still uncomfortable. Divorcing people may feel shame that they weren’t able to keep their marriage together; their still-married friends may be hesitant to raise the issue in case divorce is somehow contagious.
That doesn’t change the fact that divorce is tough for everyone involved.
One of the hardest parts is finding a new place to live. When people split up, usually at least one of them wants or needs to leave the home they shared, but it can be hard to find a suitable place on short notice. It can be particularly difficult for parents with young children: You want to see your kids as much as possible, but that’s not always convenient in a hotel and it’s hard to have your children for the weekend if you’re living in a half-furnished 1-bedroom apartment.
That’s why we’ve partnered with Divorce Angels.
Divorce Angels is a Canadian-based divorce support network, designed to help recently separated or divorcing people “get off the couch and believing in themselves”. They offer resources, advice and referrals for people who are actively navigating the process of splitting from a spouse.
We thought this was a great idea, so when they approached us about becoming one of their short-term accommodation partners, we were happy to join. All their partners are fully vetted and screened for suitability – this isn’t a paid-for advertisement thinly disguised as a partnership. When you sign up, you’re given referrals to partners based on your specific needs.
For us it was a no-brainer: We know how stressful it can be to try to maintain your normal routine when you don’t have a home to feel settled in. And we think it’s especially important to ensure that all parents have a comfortable, safe space in which to spend time with their kids during a separation or divorce.
Yes, divorce sucks, for just about everyone involved. We’d really like to make it a little easier for you.
Check out Divorce Angels for more information. Book your stay through them and receive a 5% discount on every 60-day stay.