Urgent Eviction Notice Leaves Yellowknife Couple Facing Winter Fears

UPDATE: A Yellowknife couple, Cindy Nitsiza and Louis Chartrand, is facing an urgent eviction as they prepare for a winter without a home. Residents of Franklin House Apartments, the couple received notice to vacate by September 30, 2023, due to extensive renovations following a devastating fire that left them displaced earlier this year.

The couple is currently on income support for their disabilities and has been living in a new unit after a fire destroyed their original home in May. However, they now face an uncertain future as winter temperatures drop and they are left searching for alternative accommodation. “What are we going to do? Where are we going to go?” Nitsiza expressed her fears, adding that she is stuck on a waiting list for other housing options.

According to an email from their landlord, Range Lake Developments, all tenants must vacate for safety reasons before renovations can begin. “This is not a simple renovation,” the statement read, emphasizing that the project could take “many, many months to complete.”

Nitsiza and Chartrand’s current living conditions have already deteriorated, with issues such as infestation and lack of hot water prompting legal intervention. Their lawyer, Peter Adourian, is set to appear before the N.W.T. rental officer this week to challenge the eviction order, arguing that the couple is facing a case of “renoviction.”

The urgency of this situation cannot be overstated. With winter around the corner, the couple risks returning to a homeless situation that Nitsiza has endured before. “I don’t want to go through that again,” she said, tears in her eyes, recalling two years spent sleeping in stairwells and laundromats.

As the deadline approaches, Nitsiza and Chartrand are left in a state of anxiety, unsure of what their next steps will be. “I don’t want to be on the street,” Nitsiza said emphatically.

Immediate action is required to protect vulnerable tenants like Nitsiza and Chartrand. As they await a response from the rental officer, the community watches closely to see how this urgent situation unfolds.

Residents and advocates are calling for more support and resources for those facing similar challenges as winter sets in. With shelters often at capacity and limited options for couples, the need for a humane solution to housing crises has never been more critical.

As this story develops, we will continue to monitor the situation closely for any updates regarding the couple’s fight against eviction and their search for stable housing.