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That\u2019s how the residents and operator of a Mississauga apartment building describe the two-year-long process to repair over 30 apartment units damaged in a catastrophic flood that caught everyone by surprise two summers ago.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s really hard because it\u2019s so many years now that I haven\u2019t been in my apartment,\u201d Hazel Thomas, a resident who has been living with her son and other family members ever since the flood, told insauga.com.<\/p>\n
In the late evening of Aug. 28, 2021, Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services evacuated over 100 people from a building at 2111 Roche Court. The older building in the city\u2019s Sheridan neighbourhood had flooded during a storm and dozens of people and their pets were bused to the Clarkson Community Centre.<\/p>\n
While no injuries were reported in connection with the flooding, the repairs to the impacted units are still ongoing and, two years later, residents are asking when they\u2019ll get their homes back.<\/p>\n
\u201cI haven\u2019t gotten any feedback from the landlord,\u201d Thomas says. \u201cI\u2019m seeing people coming in and out, but it\u2019s hard to say if anything is happening. I have some friends in the building and my son has a two-bedroom apartment and I\u2019m living with him. We have so many people living there. I want my freedom back. I want my independence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Earlier this summer, displaced residents and their supporters held a speak-out on the property to raise awareness and demand answers. The speak-out, which included about 30 protestors, was organized by Peel ACORN, an independent social and economic justice organization comprised of low- and moderate-income Mississauga residents.<\/p>\n
According to ACORN, the flood\u2013which disturbed asbestos that needed to be removed\u2013damaged tenants\u2019 possessions and forced many of them into shelters, hotels and the homes of friends and family members, where many remain two years later.<\/p>\n
\u201cTenants deserve to be back in their units, and tenants deserve safe and healthy homes,\u201d ACORN said in a news release, arguing that the ongoing issues stem from negligence and ongoing issues with plumbing and other building infrastructure.<\/p>\n
Thomas said that while her current situation isn\u2019t ideal, she has no other options.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy son is on the couch. I didn\u2019t want to go to the shelter,\u201d she says, adding that the building\u2019s administration has told her that they cannot provide her with a final move-in date.<\/p>\n
\u201cEarlier this summer, [the superintendent] said she doesn\u2019t know when [my unit] is going to be available.\u201d
\nBalbir Sidhu, a representative of Jamuna Investments, the Vaughan-based company that owns the building, told insauga.com that repairs have been slow due to pandemic-related supply chain disruptions and labour shortages.<\/p>\n
\u201cTenants had to leave after the flood and we hoped to get them back in quickly but that didn\u2019t happen because they discovered asbestos,\u201d Sidhu says.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the nature of the building and how old the buildings are. We started repairing it. It took one year to clear it and the mould out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sidhu says that when the building was first constructed, codes and regulations were different and it\u2019s taking a while to get the building up to current standards at a time when materials have been scarce and skilled labourers are sometimes even scarcer.<\/p>\n
She says Jamuna has been working with the City of Mississauga to ensure the construction is up to snuff and passes inspection, but delays have been common.<\/p>\n
\u201cNow, workers are almost closing separation holes and soon [the city] will be checking it again. It\u2019s hard to find the right materials right now, as well as the right workers. Once the city gives us clearance, then other work will start. I have no timeframe right now,\u201d she says, adding Thomas was offered space in another unit.<\/p>\n
\u201cDelays are there because materials used to fix holes are hard to find. When we find them, deliveries come late and a special worker has to work on [the project]. We can\u2019t take just anyone. It has to be special people.\u201d<\/p>\n
A representative of the City of Mississauga says that a building permit was issued in 2022 to conduct the necessary repairs, but the company does not need to have the construction completed by a specific date.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere is no time limit on a building permit as long as some work is occurring,\u201d Irene McCutcheon, senior communications advisor with the city, told insauga.com in an email.<\/p>\n
Tenants say that while the flood and associated displacement have been extremely stressful, they hope that other issues with the building will also be addressed.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have issues with cockroaches and leaking inside our unit as well as in the hallway,\u201d says Michelle Martin, a tenant in the building who was not displaced by the flood.<\/p>\n
Martin told insauga.com that water was pooling in front of her unit for quite some time before maintenance was able to get to the root of the problem and fix it. She also said she has needed multiple repairs to the bathtub in her suite.<\/p>\n
According to the city, the building was recently inspected by the MARC team and received a passing grade of 55 per cent.<\/p>\n
The newly implemented MARC (Mississauga Apartment Rental Compliance) program addresses day-to-day issues in registered apartment buildings throughout the city. The proactive inspection program evaluates building maintenance standards, pest control, and cleanliness.
\nMARC is not involved in situations where severe damage has occurred and a tenant is forced to leave for health or safety purposes.<\/p>\n
According to the MARC inspection report, issued in July, the city has asked the building\u2019s management to \u201ctake corrective action\u201d to address issues with the building (walls, windows, doors, etc.), roof, storage and locker rooms, grounds and stairwells.<\/p>\n
The report says no action is required in regards to the lobby, elevators, hallways, mechanical and service rooms, laundry room, parking garage, procedures, records and more.<\/p>\n
The building is slated to be reinspected next year.<\/p>\n
Both Thomas and Martin say the delays have taken their toll on tenants and that more needs to be done to raise awareness. They also said they were pleasantly surprised by the turnout at the July speak-out.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was successful and at first, I had a low spirit because there are language barriers and [we heard] that some tenants were told not to come. It turned out good because we got 30 people,\u201d says Thomas.<\/p>\n
Martin says they also hope to bring tenants together to demand improvements to the building, which is home to many lower-income residents and new Canadians.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe hope to come together as a community, as a building. People are afraid and they\u2019re not understanding their rights and the legitimacy of someone knocking on their door. We\u2019re hoping word of mouth, whether it\u2019s in English or another language, the turns out will grow.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat I\u2019m hoping for is more daily maintenance of the building. Four other buildings have been renovated and have new balconies and you can spot our building and know, \u2018That\u2019s the one.\u2019 It stands out like a sore thumb.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jamuna\u2019s Sidhu says that once construction is complete, everyone can finally sleep better at night.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs soon as it\u2019s done, I\u2019ll be so happy. This is a nightmare disaster. We lose sleep, we call people morning to night,\u201d she says, adding that she hopes the units are move-in ready within the next few months.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf all these tenants can come back, I can sleep.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thomas says she just wants her home back.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just hope I can get back into my place and get my freedom back. There are a lot of people who have been displaced. I feel for people who want to go back into their place and want the building to be up-kept. You want to invite people to your house. I want my freedom.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI pray for that. It\u2019s too long, it\u2019s really too long.\u201d<\/p>\n
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