A Hamilton family's apartment was flooded 7 months ago. They're still waiting for landlord to do repairs
CBC
One morning last September, Aden Hassan returned from a quick trip to the corner store to find his entire two-bedroom Hamilton apartment was flooded.
The sloshing inches of water had destroyed baseboards, walls and most of his family's belongings, Hassan said. He lives in the apartment with his wife and four children.
In the days following, the landlord made emergency repairs — hiring a contractor to strip away a few feet of soggy drywall, according to an eviction notice that describes events and was filed months later.
But the repair work stopped there, and seven months later the family is still living in "very difficult" conditions at 235 Rebecca St. Hassan said.
Hassan, 27, showed CBC Hamilton the extensive damage, gesturing to loose wires, exposed concrete and caulking, and sharp metal corners that pose a constant danger to his 18-month-old son.
He points out black mould blooming in corners and closets. He can see the bathtub's underbelly through a giant hole in the bedroom wall. And the bottom of his bathroom cupboard has never fully dried.
"I'm frustrated, overwhelmed and very depressed," Hassan said. "I don't have time to keep fighting for this to be solved in days or months."
The family relies solely on Hassan's income as a construction worker, and can't afford to move anywhere else. Hassan said he's paying just over $1,500 a month in rent, while two-bedroom units elsewhere can cost $2,000 or more.
He and his wife were born in Somalia and moved to Canada as refugees. He said they're still learning English and about their tenant rights, and was hopeful the landlord would follow through on repairs.
But in recent weeks, out of desperation, he said he got in touch with tenant advocacy group ACORN, Hamilton Community Legal Clinic (HCLC) lawyers and HCLC Black justice coordinator Gachi Issa.
"It's time to speak out," Hassan said.
His family's "deeply concerning" living situation is not only a symptom of Hamilton's ongoing housing crisis, but also an example of anti-Black racism, said Issa.
"A lot of landlords, especially in the downtown core, take advantage of migrants often, those with language barriers and those who are vulnerable," she said. "It's heartbreaking to see."
Two legal experts told CBC Hamilton there's no excuse for the unit to still be in this condition.
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