‘It’s simply amazing, people are great’: Evicted B.C. couple overwhelmed by support | 24CA News
A pair from Nanaimo, B.C., who says they had been evicted from their dwelling final month has been overwhelmed by the outpouring of assist they’ve obtained.
Sharon Kowalchuk, who was lately declared palliative by her physician as a result of a number of organ failure, solely has a number of months left to reside.
She and her husband, Gerry Casey, stated that they had been dwelling at their Nanaimo rental dwelling, paying $1,050 a month for a room and shared kitchen and toilet, when their landlord instructed them the frequent ambulance calls had been changing into a nuisance.
The couple moved right into a lodge room however Kowalchuk hoped for a extra comfy dwelling scenario earlier than she passes away.
A GoFundMe arrange for the couple has raised greater than $35,000.
“It’s amazing, it’s simply amazing, people are great,” Kowalchuk instructed Global News Tuesday. “I appreciate it with all my heart, thank you for helping me.”
The cash will go in direction of getting the couple a brand new residence and the remaining will go right into a belief.
Casey stated he has additionally been blown away by the assist and a spotlight their story has obtained.
“Thank you, thank you, very very grateful,” he stated. “I didn’t think there were people that really cared. Not many people anyway.”
“All I can say is thank you so much. It will give us a bit of a life that she has left.”
However, Casey stated the stress and the transfer have taken a significant toll on his spouse’s well being.
“She’s having a heck of a time, it’s taken a lot out of her like you wouldn’t believe,” he stated.
“It’s all going to happen right in front of me, when I get a smile out of her, it just makes my day.”
Global News reached out to the owner final week however he stated Kowalchuk is mendacity about what occurred.
Read extra:
B.C. lady with terminal sickness says she has been evicted as a result of frequent ambulance calls
B.C.’s Housing Minister, Ravi Kahlon, stated in an announcement Tuesday that he has made positive that the Residential Tenancy Branch’s Compliance and Enforcement Unit was conscious of this case, and he has been knowledgeable that an investigation has been opened.
“Because an investigation has commenced, it would be inappropriate for me to comment any further on the details of that investigation until it has been concluded,” Kahlon stated. “That said, the CEU has previously been successful in investigating cases of serious, repeat and deliberate non-compliance with tenancy laws and levies monetary penalties, where necessary.”
For now, the couple’s focus is to get settled of their new dwelling and benefit from the time they’ve left collectively.
Their household can be rallying round them.
“I thank you so much, you have no idea how humbling that is for us,” Kathy Zimmer, Kowalchuk’s sister stated.
The Compliance and Enforcement Unit is concerned about listening to from another tenants that will have lived on the tackle in query throughout the months of January and February 2023. If anybody has data that they consider may help the CEU with this investigation, contact them by way of the final contact centre for the RTB, both by telephone (1-800-665-8779) or e-mail.
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
