Stadacona Apartments Closed As Unfit For Human Habitation
By Robert Thomas
An apartment block that has become synonymous with crime, due to the actions of some tenants and their friends, has been condemned as unfit for human habitation and the residents taken to temporary accommodations.
Yesterday members of the Moose Jaw Fire Department - assisted by the Moose Jaw Police Service - attended to the Stadacona Apartments (76 Stadacona Street West) where an inspection was done.
According to a source familiar with the inspection - who asked to remain anonymous as they are not authorized to speak to the media - the building was declared unfit for human habitation due to a variety of reasons.
Tenants about to get into a City of Moose Jaw Transit bus to be taken to temporary shelter in two local motels on tuesday - MJ Independent photo
Moose Jaw Police Service, Moose Jaw Fire Department and social workers attended to the Stadacona Street Apartments on Monday to inspect the building - MJ Independent photo
Some of the large CONTINGENT of emergency vehicles which attended to the Stadacona Street Apartments during an inspection late Monday afternoon - MJ Independent photo
Those reasons included burst sewer pipes filling the basement with raw sewage, boilers not working to provide heat as well as an insect (cockroach) infestation.
The building’s residents are low income people who now find themselves homeless.
One apartment resident (an avid reader of this publication) on Monday evening told MJ Independent they didn’t know where they were going to go or end up.
All they knew was the SS (Social Services) were moving them temporarily to a motel.
They also wanted to state they were not criminals but simply a person who was too disabled to work and lived in the Stadacona Apartments because they “couldn’t afford nothin else.”
Tenants were told on Monday they would be moving the following day.
At publication time it is unknown how many people are now looking for a permanent home as well as what are the long-term plans and assistance available to the now former residents.
It is also not known what are the future plans for the building.
We will update you when we find out.
UPDATE - immediately after the tenants were evicted the Stadacona Apartments were boarded up.
