Losing My Home - Seniors Rental Crisis

I am in dire crisis and my life is about to be completely destroyed by the end of July/22.

I am 72 1/2 years old and have lived in my Apartment Building for 23 years and worked for the Strata and Property Management Companies for 20 years and still do. Throughout the 20 years I have worked here I have done my best to help everyone I could along with Cleaning Duties, assisting with all Maintenance Calls, Emergency Repairs, Police Matters, Fire Inspections and Evacuations, Flood Clean Up at all hours, Comforting Kids and Adults in Crisis Situations, Babysitting and Pet Sitting. I have always considered Tenants and Owners as extended Family. I try to make everyone feel welcome and understand that we all try to help each other. Many Tenants have moved over the years to newer places and call me wanting to come back.

My Cat - Stanley worked with me daily for years and when he tragically died in June 2020 - He was honoured in the Building with his picture and a Plaque in the Lobby as he brought smiles to everyone including the Fire Dept., Police, Maintenance Workers and Visitors. There was not a dry eye in the Building from everyone young to old (even non cat lovers) - when they heard of his death. Police, Firemen, Visitors, Owners, Tenants and Maintenance Workers all had to be inspected by Stanley first before they proceeded and they loved it.

I have worked my heart out for this Building and the people in it - much of my work for free. I am not an Owner nor on Strata. March 2020 was my 20th year of taking care of this Building - thought I might get a Thank You Card - What I got was an Eviction Notice. I hoped I could retire soon - Not the retirement I hoped for.

Since the Eviction Pauses during Covid were lifted Jan.1/22 - Renters are being forced out in droves - All ages and a lot of Seniors. The Rental Crisis has been going on for years with affordable rents vanishing daily. The Homeless keep on growing - Many Many More to come.

Now I am being tossed out like a useless piece of garbage - Just Another Stray like so many abandoned Pets. This is not only cruel to people but their animals are also paying the price through no fault of their own.

I am about to be Homeless and Destitute. I am not only losing my Home, My Community and Many Friends - I am also losing my Job - 1 small paycheck to come next week. I will not be able to rent anywhere, Pay Bills Eat, afford Hydro, Cable, Phone, Prescriptions, Transportation (I have not had a car for 20 years) on my combined OAS and CPP Pensions which will total approximately $1000.00/month. I cannot afford Storage and it is very painful to have toss out my furniture and all the very special and sentimental items I have treasured for years that mean so much to me.

The stress is unbearable and I am exhausted - have been seriously ill for the last 3 weeks of May and all of June - exacerbated by the mental and physical exhaustion. Seniors deserve to live their final years in peace with security and dignity - That is a far cry from what is really happening. We deserve Better. The Middle and Low Income are disposable - Just File Numbers. We are all strays now along with our Pets. Perhaps the SPCA, Safe Haven, Forever Homes and other pet rescues should be provided extra funding so they can also take in their stray owners.

I urgently need financial help to hopefully be able to survive the next year and maybe by then - should I survive this - a miracle will happen and Canada will start realizing the wrongs that are going on and step up to the plate and do right for their citizens.

Having been born here in 1949 and working for 57+ years and paying taxes - the reward is to leave people with NOTHING - NOT EVEN A HOME. There are no options left but to have to ask for help - Really sad and inexcusable in this Country with such vast land to house everyone

Colleen Frank

All Dressed Up with Nowhere To Go and

Packing Boxes to Nowhere