Moose Jaw’s Most Notorious Address

THERE IS NO DISPUTE THE PROBLEMS AT HIGH PARK TOWERS HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR SOME TIME.

DRUG USE, VANDALISM, VAGRANTS AND A MINDSET AMONGST RESDEMTS OF NOT FEELING SAFE HAS NOW REACHED THE LEGISLATURE.

By Robert Thomas

Unwanted tenants - whether official or unofficial - and “guests” have created years long havoc for seniors at High Park Towers and now the concerns of a trio of pensioners have arrived on the steps of the Legislature.

Frustrated by what they see as four years of inaction by local MLA Greg Lawrence the trio last week brought their concerns to the NDP and on to the Legislature.

In addressing the issue the NDP’s critic for social services Meara Conway said a trio of High Park Apartments residents have approached the NDP with their concerns.

“They’ve brought their concerns to their local MLA and nothing has been done,” Conway said, going on to claim “They haven’t seen their tenant manager since July.”

Conway said the High Park pensioners have seen “Mental health episodes that fill the common areas.”

CONCERNS ABOUT WHAT HAS BEEN GOING ON AT HIGH PARK TOWERS REACHED THE LEGISLATURE

Issues which include defecating in the elevators and drug use in such areas as stairwells.

People with mental health and drug addiction problems are simply being dumped into Moose Jaw Housings social housing units - initially built for seniors - without any supports and it is residents (often seniors) who pay the price for it.

Conway claimed the seniors felt trapped by the things occurring at High Park Apartments.

“A lot of this is accumulating to where seniors are feeling they are not very safe. Not feeling very welcome…A lot of long time residents have moved out. And they (the trio) would have moved out if they could afford to,” she said.

She said the building was locked down at 8 pm daily with the intercom shut off from 8 pm to 8 am meaning guests cannot easily visit.

It is creating social isolation for many tenants something the building was never designed to do.

Additionally the common room areas are locked down at 8 pm as well. Something not done at other high rise blocks managed by Moose Jaw Housing.

“It’s contributing to feeling, as they describe it, like they are in jail.”

For Conway what’s been happening at Victoria Park Towers - MJ Independent can confirm to lesser extents at Regal Villa, Temple Towers and High Park - is due to underfunding in seniors’ programs.

Conway said the lack of spending resulted in a reduction in the amount spent on public housing.

“With that chronic underfunding what we’ve seen is a lot of cuts to seniors programming and funding,” Conway said.

Government’s Response

Minister of Social Services Gene Makowsky expressed concerns about what is happening at High Park Towers and wanted to get to the bottom of it.

Drug addicted and mentally ill people are not suppose to be dumped off without supports in place.

“There are challenges with putting people with complex needs and addictions…it’s not that simple we cannot just do that,” Makowsky said.

The Minister said he wanted to follow up with the trio of tenants that came forward with their concerns.

“From what I understand that is the case and I want to follow up with these individuals…that’s definitely not the case with Sask Housing,” he said.

He explained the reason why the age limit to live in buildings like Victoria Towers decreased.

“There are seniors dedicated house, and that’s for people who are able to live independently…that’s over 55 and above. We decreased the age over time to get more people into units.”

The issue of the vandalism being done by non-tenants was on the Minister’s mind.

“It may be people getting in or coming into the unit or the apartment when they don’t live there. Getting in somehow…I know that’s been a challenge in other locations in Saskatchewan. And what we’ve been able to do there is increase security,” he said.

We will try to update you about this issue as more details become available.