Updated: Thu Oct. 23 2008 18:15:25

ctvwinnipeg.ca

Remember the stories of people living in tents in and around Calgary because they needed a place to call home while they worked? Well, seems the same thing is happening in Thompson, Manitoba.

According to the official census, Thompson has about 13,000 people, but ask anyone here and they'll tell you it's closer to 18,000.

"This is home sweet home" said Fred Swift who's making the most of his campground home. He's been here for two months, and says it's what he has to do to.

He and camp mate Randy Harder are Iron workers and needed a place to live; problem is rental units are virtually impossible to find.

They moved up from Morris, Manitoba because job prospects were good. Accommodation is another story. "Crazy, 1200 bucks a month for a room" says Swift.

Harder says "We went and purchased a trailer here and it paid for itself in its first week".

Realtor Murray Kadys says houses that sold for $50,000 just 20 years ago are now going for close to $300,000, and they're selling in record time.

"I've had a number of clients who've purchased homes strictly for the purpose of renting them out and in cases where three bedroom homes may have three contract employees living in it" says Kadys.

With a report from CTV's Joe Olafson.