Expelled at the last minute of their buildings unsafe

Benoît Philie

Thursday, 22 February, 2018 21:56

UPDATE
Thursday, 22 February, 2018 21:56

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Fearful, angry, and sometimes a single bag in hand, twenty tenants have waited until the last minute Thursday before evacuating their buildings deemed unsafe by the City of Montreal.

“It is shocking… We had three weeks to leave. We asked for a delay until the end of the month, but the City does not want “, launched Steven Latimer, the throat, leaving the housing in the neighbourhood of Pointe-Saint-Charles where he has lived for more than 10 years.

Photo Chantal Poirier

Steven Latimer is waiting for a place in social housing for 4 years. Thursday, he was evicted from his apartment and does not know where it will go live in the next few weeks.

The fifty year old man will stay with a friend until you find a place to live in the same area.

“I have sought, but it is difficult at this time of the year “, he said, the mine is low.

Lori Ann Gross says for its part to have been induced in error by the owner of the buildings, Robert Spiro Zaphiratos.

Photo Chantal Poirier

Lori Ann Gross, and his 15 year old daughter have still not found a new home.

“He told me not to worry and that nobody would have to leave, but today, I have nowhere to go, plague-t-it. I am furious, because he has rented those apartments, knowing that our lives were in danger. “

The Direction de l’habitation has sent letters to residents of the two buildings of the borough of South-West belonging to the same owner, in early February, advising them that they had until February 22, at noon to leave the premises.

Unhealthy and dangerous

According to the inspectors, the emergency exits of the apartments located on the streets of the city Centre and Châteauguay are not in compliance. Various safety problems have also been noted since 2011. However, the City has decided to take action only recently.

“We have worked in the best possible time to ensure that the tenants are not in danger. The notice of three weeks is the legal time given in such circumstances “, said the spokesman of the City, Philippe Sabourin.

The owner has tried to overturn the decision before a judge this week, without success. It has not been recalled by The Newspaper.

Gathered in front of one of the buildings on Thursday, local community organizations have, for their part, deplored the short time given to evacuate.

“It is unacceptable, not to mention that the City has not even communicated with stakeholders in the community,” said the project manager in Action-the Guardian, Cedric Glorioso-Deraiche.

Housed in the hotel

According to him, some tenants are struggling with mental health problems and are very vulnerable.

Only three of the 19 tenants had found a new apartment standing on Thursday with the assistance of the Office municipal d’habitation de Montréal (OMHM). A few others managed only to find a new roof.

Ten out will be hosted in a hotel for the next four days. The OMHM provides that these persons will be supported the amount of time it takes to find them a new home.

The buildings will be barricaded until the owner to undertake remedial work. Tenants will be able to recover their property in time and place.