With a midnight deadline approaching, the City of Windsor has offered assistance to the soon-to-be-displaced residents of a west-end apartment building.
A Prohibition of Occupancy order, or a condemnation, was served last week on River Place Residence at 245 Detroit Street due to below-standard living conditions. All residents must be out of the building by midnight Tuesday night.
With residents now scrambling to find another place to live, the City has staff from numerous departments working with the residents on finding temporary accommodations. Outreach workers from the Welcome Centre Shelter, Family Services Windsor-Essex, and other agencies have been meeting directly with residents to assess their needs and find them shelter.
"We continue to offer individualized supports to the tenants of 245 Detroit Street in several different areas," said Debbie Cerone, the City's Executive Director of Housing, Homelessness and Children's Services. "This includes not only finding alternative accommodations for those who have been displaced but also providing information on other services they are able to access to provide resources for daily needs."
Inspectors had been monitoring conditions at River Place since July 8. The building did not have potable water, the fire alarms were not working, and the heating and ventilation systems had not been working properly.
Windsor Chief Building Official John Revell said he still has confidence that the building can be rehabilitated and people will be allowed to move back in.
"We have been in contact continuously with the owners on this property since the Unsafe Order was issued," said Revell. "With the building scheduled to be unoccupied, it’s our hope we can begin to work with the owners to make plans for the future."
The City says some residents have been able to find other places to stay, but officials will be ready to provide help to residents for as long as it is needed. Tenants in need of additional help may contact the Homelessness and Housing Help Hub (H4) at the former Windsor Water World on Wyandotte Street East. H4 is open every day from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
---with files from Adelle Loiselle
