More than a dozen Sudbury tenants still displaced after arson fire at their building

Last Monday, an arson fire caused significant smoke and fire damage at a Greater Sudbury Housing apartment complex – the tenants of the 20-unit building have been displaced and there’s no word when they can return home.

An arson fire caused significant smoke and fire damage at a Greater Sudbury Housing apartment complex on Burton Avenue on August 4, 2024. The damage is pictured here on August 9, 2024. (Alana Everson/CTV News Northern Ontario)

Officials with the City of Greater Sudbury told CTV News that the city is providing assistance to the tenants with hotel rooms, food and transportation supports – but people who are displaced say it has tough not knowing when they can return home.

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Odette St. Gelais is 1 of 13 displaced tenants being put up but the city at a Sudbury hotel while they cannot return to their geared-to-income housing units.

The fire which was determined to be arson by investigators caused extensive smoke damage to the building on Burton Avenue and emergency systems will have to be repaired or replaced.

“It’s terrible, like I was crying my eyes out last night,” said Gelais talking to CTV News on Friday.

“I am having a hard time falling asleep too.”

Odette St. Gelais is 1 of 13 displaced tenants being put up but the city at a Sudbury hotel while they cannot return to their geared-to-income housing units after an arson fire on Monday. August 9, 2024. (Alana Everson/CTV News Northern Ontario)

The city said it has client navigators working with the tenants providing various supports.

“There is food supports, transportation support, help with paperwork for insurance, anything that a tenant is struggling with or might need at this point our client navigators are there to support,” said Cindy Junkala, the city’s co-ordination of shelters and homelessness.

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St. Gelais told CTV News that she plans on fighting for the tenants to get their rent back from Sudbury Greater Housing for the month of August.

“We are paying for a service we are not receiving and we are displaced,” she said.

“Like some people walked out of there with just their clothes they have on them.”

City officials said the displaced tenants will be able to stay at the hotel until they can return to their unit or or are offered a transfer.

“We expect that it won’t be long term because the expectation is that they will be able to return to the building or be placed elsewhere,” said Junkala.

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St. Gelais said tenants are angry the fire was an arson and two people who lived in the building now face charges – adding most of the displaced tenants would like counselling to help deal with the trauma of the fire and the stress of being displaced.

The city says counselling something it can assist with if a tenant makes a request.