Tenants ordered to vacate troubled Winnipeg hotel have nowhere else to go, owner says
Many of the 34 tenants who moved out have returned, hotel owner says
The owner of a troubled downtown Winnipeg hotel says tenants who moved out after the City of Winnipeg issued an order to vacate earlier this month have returned because they have nowhere else to go.
Akim Kambamba, who has owned the Manwin Hotel for 13 years, says the order came after inspectors found safety concerns, including problems with a rear fire escape.
The 34 people living there moved out, Kambamba says, but many of them have come back.
"They kept insisting they have to come back, so I let most of them stay," Kambamba said in an interview.
"There's no room anywhere. The shelters are full, they can't find housing anywhere. The landlords with bigger buildings charge way more than they can afford, so we're giving these people a chance to live here."
Continuing maintenance issues
Firefighters responding to a fire in a suite last month found its rear fire escape did not meet safety standards because it is too steep, Kambamba said.
Inspectors also cited multiple continuing maintenance issues.
Kambamba says he's working on fixing the problems, but doesn't have the money right now. The rent he receives, which is mostly paid through Employment and Income Assistance, does not cover the cost of maintenance, while a new fire escape is estimated to cost about $80,000, Kambamba says.
Nevertheless, he does not think there are any "life safety" issues that would make living in the Manwin Hotel more dangerous than living on the streets.
"It's not 100 per cent perfect, but people can live here and the city should be reasonable to allow not to kick people out in -40° weather."
The hotel has faced criticism from people living in the area over poor living conditions and problems with violence. Despite those concerns, its residents have told CBC News they have nowhere else to go.
Marion Willis with St. Boniface Street Links visited the hotel on Wednesday and spoke to those living there. She agrees the hotel needs a lot of work, but worries forcing people out will create more problems.
"Property bylaws tells me it's about life safety issues. Well, you don't fix one life safety issue by creating another," Willis said. "There's all kinds of life safety issues attached to putting people outside. Where do you think these folks are going?"
A spokersperson says the city has been working with Kambamba for years to address outstanding problems.
"As a necessary step to encourage the property owner to comply with multiple outstanding permit requirements and compliance orders on the building, the city issued the property owner an order to vacate earlier this month," city spokesperson Kalen Qually wrote in an email.
Kambamba has appealed, and a hearing is set for Feb. 10.
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