Robert Bumbacco is exhausted.
After a hearth broke out at his Peterborough, Ont., dwelling on Aug. 13, the 77-year-old has been combating homelessness, usually resorting to sleeping in his truck till repairs in his dwelling are full.
However what has annoyed Bumbacco is that his landlord – the Metropolis of Peterborough – hasn’t given him a concrete reply on when he can return dwelling.
“When are you guys going to start work on this? (They) couldn’t give me an answer,” he instructed Ontario Chronicle.
“Where does that leave me? I can’t afford $700 a month and up for rent in this city.”
On Aug. 13, Bumbacco mentioned he was exterior when he noticed smoke popping out of the home. He mentioned the hearth occurred in a dryer within the basement.
Story continues beneath commercial
He added the hearth principally precipitated smoke harm, however he’s not allowed to dwell within the dwelling till repairs are executed.
2:05
Ontario cities to demand province handle ‘thousands of people living in the streets’
For the six nights following the hearth, he stayed in a motel due to a neighborhood counselling and useful resource centre. He’s sought assist elsewhere, however hasn’t had any luck.
Get day by day Nationwide information
Get the day’s prime information, political, financial, and present affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox as soon as a day.
He’s usually needed to resort to sleeping in his truck throughout this time.
“Can I get into the senior’s residence? Well, no there’s a seven-year wait,” Bumbacco mentioned.
“I’m tired. Mentally tired.”
5:41
AMO convention on tackling homelessness, well being care in municipalities
Trending Now
Many Canadians find yourself in ER earlier than being identified with most cancers: research
‘I’m pissed’: Alberta premier, oil and fuel trade slam Ottawa’s new emissions cap
Dwelling off a seniors’ pension, the house Bumbacco lives in is hire geared-to-income. He has struggled to search out work as a result of a again harm.
Story continues beneath commercial
“They’re worried that if I hurt my back again, they’re going to be responsible,” he mentioned.
“Now I’m 77, ain’t nobody going to take me. I want to work.”
Course of ‘underway to initiate repairs’: Metropolis
Bumbacco is questioning why there aren’t extra helps in place for individuals who could discover themselves in an analogous scenario.
The Metropolis of Peterborough declined to be interviewed, citing confidentiality necessities between landlords and tenants.
However in an announcement, Sharron Hayton, Service Peterborough Supervisor, mentioned the method to restore the property is underway.
“As a landlord, the City of Peterborough follows regulations and applicable law for displacement of tenants. In general, any individual who is in need of immediate short-term support as a result of displacement due to disaster may be eligible for Peterborough City County Disaster Trust Fund,” she mentioned.
Story continues beneath commercial
“The process is underway to initiate repairs on the City-owned property that was impacted by the fire on Aug. 13, 2024.”
— with recordsdata from Germaine Ma
Extra on Toronto
Extra movies
© 2024 Ontario Chronicle, a division of Corus Leisure Inc.
