Cochrane social services needs financial support to help Empire Complex fire victims
It has been two weeks since a fire at an apartment complex in Timmins displaced more than 100 people.
It has been two weeks since a fire at the Empire Complex in Timmins displaced more than 100 people and the local social services board says it is still working with around 80 former tenants. (File photo/Lydia Chubak/CTV News Northern Ontario)
The Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board (CDSSAB) says it is currently working with around 80 former Empire Complex tenants to help them find housing anywhere they can during a time when the city’s vacancy rate is at its lowest.
Officials with CDSSAB told CTV News that they need all the help they can get.
They are currently supporting about 80 people who are now homeless after the Empire Complex fire and are currently housing them at the Ramada Inn.
“Well, it can't go on long, because as you can imagine, housing that many people in a hotel is quite expensive on a nightly basis,” said CDSSAB CAO Brian Marks.
“I believe after the first 10 days it was, approximately $200,000 and CDSSAB doesn't have that money.”
Marks said that every dollar that gets spent is, is a dollar that we're taking from something else.
“We've had several calls with, our ministry counterparts and we will be submitting a financial ask,” he said.
“We hope that that resonates and they come through.”
Marks explained that when 103 people were impacted all at once – including seniors, people with disabilities and foreign students – it was a humanity crisis that the board could not ignore.
However, Marks said with the city’s vacancy rate at less than two per cent and more than 1,700 on the social housing waiting list, some people may need to consider relocating.
“It's really not our responsibility to find units,” he said.
“It's our responsibility, I think, to support people for them to find units and that includes anywhere in the country. I mean, if they have next of kin anywhere… or if there are vacancies anywhere, you know, we'll do what we can to help people access those units and get to where they can have a place to live because clearly, you know, a hotel or motel room is just not sustainable.”
As for how long CDSSAB will be able to pay for hotel rooms, Marks said told CTV News that is a difficult question to answer and he is uncertain if the organization would be able to do this again.
Marks said he is hopeful that financial relief will come and he also plans to ask corporations for assistance because he said the last thing Timmins needs right now is another 100 people looking for affordable housing.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW From yearning for a change to cost of living, why some Canadians have left or may leave the country
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Defence attacks Stormy Daniels' credibility as she returns to the stand in Trump's hush money trial
Stormy Daniels will return to the witness stand Thursday in Donald Trump's hush money trial as the defence tries to undermine the credibility of the porn actor's salacious testimony about their alleged sexual encounter and the money she was paid to keep quiet.
With contactless screening tech, this Toronto startup hopes to catch breast cancer early — and save lives
Amid evidence of rising breast cancer rates among young women in Canada, one Toronto startup is offering a contactless and radiation-free device that can help doctors identify suspicious changes in breast tissue. The company, Linda Lifetech, says this can lead to earlier detection of breast cancer.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Florida deputies who fatally shot U.S. airman burst into wrong apartment, attorney says
Deputies responding to a disturbance call at a Florida apartment complex burst into the wrong unit and fatally shot a Black U.S. Air Force airman who was home alone when they saw he was armed with a gun, an attorney for the man's family said Wednesday.