Tenants question delays as dozens of AC units sit uninstalled at B.C. social housing complex | 24CA News
Residents of a Vancouver social housing facility are questioning why it’s taking so lengthy to put in air con items sitting stacked within the constructing’s basement.
Dozens of brand-new transportable air conditioners are at present being saved on the Hotel Canada, a BC Housing owned constructing operated by the non-profit Atira Women’s Resource Society.
BC Housing purchased 150 of the items for the constructing, which are supposed to enhance poor air circulation, earlier this summer time. But weeks later simply 60 have been put in.
“They should have been installed when they said they were going to, when they did the notices last month,” resident David Black informed Global News.
“They said they were going to start installing them last month in the first week or whatever. Nothing happened for like the whole month, right? It’s moving slowly, it’s moving really, really slow.”
Black added that many tenants must prop their doorways open as a result of home windows within the constructing can solely be opened a crack.
Resident Jessica Buckley mentioned an air conditioner had been put in in her unit final week, after a one-month wait.
“It was hot. Really hot,” she mentioned.
“They should be all installed. It should be done now, don’t you think?”
A contractor putting in the items, who wouldn’t go on digicam, informed Global News the work is taking longer than traditional as a result of circumstances within the items are sometimes very unhealthy, and that little superior work is being performed earlier than they present as much as do the set up.
Atira interim CEO Catherine Roome mentioned the set up work is being managed by BC Housing and its contractors, however that she believes crews are doing their greatest to get the work performed as quick as doable.
But she mentioned the work is difficult, as a result of the constructing is 110 years outdated and the residents are a weak group.
“I am sympathetic to maintenance contractors simply trying to do their work, and they’re, we’re about one-third of the way through installing the air conditioners on behalf of BC Housing,” she mentioned.
“We are talking about people that have complex needs and they have privacy needs — I mean this is their home, whatever state that that home is, and yes, we have health and safety and security issues in these buildings. It’s a complex negotiation.”
Roome mentioned the scenario highlights the necessity for the province to maneuver away from “really old, decrepit buildings” that require pricey short-term upkeep, and in the direction of purpose-built housing with higher wraparound helps.
BC Housing didn’t make somebody obtainable for an interview. In a press release, it mentioned the items arrived in late July and early August.
“Prior to installation, each unit requires some electrical modifications, so the room’s power capacity won’t be impacted and to ensure tenant safety,” the housing company mentioned.
It added it expects the work to be full by mid-September.
In the meantime, some residents like Chris — who declined to present his final identify — are left ready in frustration.
“It’s really challenging, it’s been really hot this summer,” he mentioned.
“I think its absolutely ridiculous. If they’re there, stacked up in the basement and all that — it’s nothing to it to install it I would say, I can install it myself really if they give it to me.”
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
