After a burst pipe at the Westlands Non-Profit Affordable Housing for Seniors complex on October 18 caused significant flood damage, more than 40 seniors are adjusting to a new life away from home.
Nearly all 36 units flooded, and the damage has left the building uninhabitable for an undetermined amount of time, Scott MacAuley, a board member with the Westlands Non-Profit Housing Cooperative, told Global News on Saturday.
Residents were compelled to look for new housing after being able to grab their possessions and medications.
“I count myself among the fortunate. Lois Coulson, a resident since 2013, stated, “I have a daughter that took me in, but there were 13 individuals that had to go to a hotel.”
Coulson’s family is expressing concerns about enhancing emergency readiness for vulnerable persons even though nobody was wounded and agencies responded fast.
“I personally never even considered picking up my medication or phone charger… Coulson stated, “We didn’t know what to do.
According to Coulson, the water damage from the flood was severe and occurred swiftly.
“I saw water running out of the apartment across the hall, down the walls, and even my doorframe had water running down it,” she said.
Stakeholders are currently making great efforts to ensure that all 36 households have a roof over their heads for at least the upcoming six months while the facility is being rebuilt.
“Only a small number of members lacked insurance. In order to ensure that their needs are satisfied, they have been at the top of our priority list, MacAuley stated.
Some individuals had families. Some folks had pals. They have that infrastructure in place. Others did not.
So, like I said, we started with the most vulnerable and worked our way down.
After the incident, neighbourhood resource councils for seniors in Keewatin/Inkster and Brooklands Active Living Centre, as well as Sparling United Church next door, stepped in to help make sure everyone had a roof over their heads.
Winnipeg Emergency Services moved to housing management and made sure that nobody was left in the cold.
Everyone received a warm meal in their stomachs and a roof over their heads right away,” MacAuley said.
Stakeholders will be attempting to determine how the entire scenario may have been averted in the interim, according to MacAuley.
It will take some time to figure it out. Did it deserve to happen? No. But nothing in life is definite, as we all know. Things occur. Hopefully, once an inquiry is completed, we’ll know a bit more,” he said.
“I realise that it seemed to be a feeder line to the sprinkler system.”
Debbie Coulson, the daughter of Coulson, has established a fundraiser.
Including records from Rosanna Hempel.
Over 40 senior citizens are relocated when a burst pipe floods a housing complex.
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