“New Westminster Tenants Refuse to Vacate Unsafe Apartment Building, Demand Permanent Housing
A group of tenants in New Westminster are defying an evacuation order from an unsafe apartment building and are demanding permanent housing from the authorities. The residents were given three days to vacate, leaving them feeling desperate and uncertain about their future.
Unsafe Living Conditions
The building has been deemed unsafe by the fire chief due to severe life-safety issues such as the lack of working fire alarms and smoke detectors, as well as electrical and gas systems that don’t meet safety standards. The city initially ordered residents to vacate by Friday at noon but extended the deadline to Monday.
Lack of Replacement Housing
Despite being offered support with storage and moving, the residents have not been provided with replacement housing. Many of them expressed concerns about the unaffordable cost of living elsewhere and the sudden urgency to vacate right before Christmas. They also lamented the lack of communication with the absent landlord.
Demand for Permanent Housing
The tenants are adamant about staying until they are offered a permanent home as a replacement. They refuse to leave their homes to go to a shelter or live in tents outside, blaming the landlord for the situation and expressing their inability to afford alternatives. The mayor assured that city officials are working to address the residents’ concerns and are looking for alternate housing options.
Legal Issues with the Landlord
The building’s landlord has been cited for non-compliance over the years, resulting in the revocation of the business license and significant fines. Despite the evacuation order, essential services like power, heat, and water remain active in the building, and the remaining residents are committed to staying until they are forced to leave.
Thought-Provoking Conclusion
The plight of the New Westminster tenants raises questions about the availability of affordable housing and the responsibilities of landlords to provide safe living conditions. The tenants’ refusal to leave reflects the widespread issues faced by renters in an increasingly challenging housing market. As city officials work to find a solution, the situation begs the question: What happens to those who have nowhere else to go?”
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