The costs to house 37 residents, left homeless after a Powassan long-term care home closed in October, are mounting.
Today MPP Vic Fedeli, announced that the Ontario government will spend an additional $800,000 in one-time funding to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) North Bay and District to help pay the costs.
The residents have been housed in a Lakeshore Drive motel since last October when the local health unit ordered Powassan’s Dosanjh long-term care home, a place for people with mental issues, closed over concerns for the health of residents living there because of unsanitary conditions.
It did an audit at Dosanjh on Monday, October 24, in response to a complaint.
See the list of health hazards here.
"The Health Unit issued a closure order based on reasonable and probable grounds of health hazards existing in the facility, related to unsanitary conditions," it said in an emailed response to BayToday..
See: Mould and mouse feces close Powassan home for those with mental health issues
And: Powassan care home closed after mould and mouse feces complaint, reopens
"This funding will assist with the costs associated with the urgent temporary housing of 37 tenants following the closure of the independently owned Dosanjh Care Residence, a Community Homes for Opportunity site in Powassan," said Fedeli in a news release.
That "temporary housing" situation is now in its fifth month, with no plan offered by CMHA to resolve it.
The 25-bedroom rooming house with two beds per room in Powassan is now up for sale. The Health Unit re-inspected and passed the facility on Nov. 20 and at the time Manager Lovepreet Singh, in an email to BayToday, confirmed all health concerns had been addressed and he said no mould had been found during inspections.
"Dosanjh Care Residence is open and expects its residents to come back as soon as possible for their mental health and wellbeing. We will continue to serve our residents with excellent services."
That never happened.
See: Controversial closed Powassan group home up for sale for $2,800,000
No new details were released in Fedeli's announcement today.
“We are proud to see the provincial government provide swift financial assistance to ensure the safety and well-being of these 37 individuals,” said Fedeli today. "We thank CHMA for providing housing, wraparound supports and assistance with the activities of their daily living.”
“We are grateful for the Ontario Government’s support toward the relocation and round-the-clock care of these vulnerable individuals, safeguarding them from potential homelessness,” said Davis in today's release. “This funding will allow our organization to continue to provide these essential services and maintain financial stability amid these unexpected costs.”
According to the release, the temporary relocation plan is still in effect. Residents are currently being housed at the Lincoln Motel.
A phone call to the motel, was redirected to an extension to make a reservation. The unidentified man answering the call said the hotel had no vacancies, but the price per room was $100 per night.
When asked when he might expect a vacancy, he then told BayToday "We are no longer in the hotel business," and hung up.
CMHA is probably getting a deal on the rooms, but at $100 per night times 120 days and counting, that adds up to $440,000 just to house the displaced residents.
"Efforts are ongoing toward a permanent solution. CMHA has a comprehensive plan in place to reinforce residents’ autonomy and ensure that these individuals receive appropriate care and supports," says the release, although after five months the CMHA has not made that plan, nor any progress, public and there is no mention of a plan on its website.
