Province covering hotel stays, per diem for displaced College Avenue residents

The Manitoba government says it's offering emergency hotel stays and a per diem to people displaced in a mass eviction at a Winnipeg apartment building last weekend.

Dozens of people were forced to move out of 285 College Ave. with little notice after a sign posted at the front entrance said the complex was being shut down.

Many of its residents were people who had previously experienced homelessness whom St. Boniface Street Links had housed.

Marion Willis, the organization's executive director, said Street Links was among groups, including End Homelessness Winnipeg, that met with Manitoba Housing, the provincial Residential Tenancies Branch and other government departments on Thursday to discuss a rehousing and support plan for those who lost their homes.

"I think everybody's equally appalled that this could even happen," Willis said after the meeting.

"Everybody has their focus now on just trying as quick as possible to get people into hotel rooms … and get them reconnected to housing as rapidly as we can. Not only that, to look at ways that maybe people can be compensated for what they've lost," she said.

A spokesperson for the province said Thursday it was covering the cost of emergency short-term hotel stays for those who couldn't find alternative accommodations.

The province has said the building in the city's Mynarski ward had 26 tenancy contracts linked to it. However, Willis estimates more than double that number of people lived there, since those who had previously lived in encampments may have allowed others from their communities to live with them.

"Whether all of the individuals affected had a right to be there or not, this event really has impacted and traumatized a lot of people," Willis said.

Most people have been identified, but only a few have found permanent new homes so far, she said. Others are staying with friends or in hotels. 

St. Boniface Street Links said it hopes to connect with more landlords and property owners who have vacancies.

In the meantime, Manitoba Housing is trying to expedite applications and match people with suites, while the Residential Tenancies Branch continues to investigate what happened, Willis said.

CBC has not been able to speak with the building's owner. 

Displaced tenants will be connected with home essentials through Oyate Tipi Cumini Yape, an organization in Winnipeg's North End neighbourhood that redistributes used houseware and furniture, she said.

Willis said she hopes ongoing discussions will lead to improved laws.

"What needs to be in place to ensure that these things can't happen into the future?"