Housing a rare commodity for people forced from Moose Jaw apartment building with code violations

Two dozen residents evacuated from a decrepit Moose Jaw, Sask., apartment building are struggling to find housing, according to the groups helping them search.

"There's no vacancy anywhere right now and we're really struggling with that," said Jody Oakes, the manager of judicial programs and branch services at the John Howard Society.

Her organization is working alongside the provincial Ministry of Social Services to find housing for the 24 residents told to leave the apartment building this week and others who used the premises.

Residents were evacuated from the building at the corner of Stadacona Street and First Avenue N.W. in the city, located about 70 kilometres west of Regina, under the province's Fire Safety Act on Tuesday. 

Moose Jaw city officials said they found multiple safety violations during an inspection the day before.

Oakes said the John Howard Society was notified of the evacuation shortly before residents were sent out. 

While 16 of the 18 units were officially occupied by a total of 24 people, according to the fire department, Oakes said the society provided help for about 50 people who stayed there before it was evacuated.

She said people who were unhoused or did not have secure housing would stay there at night or use the bathrooms.

Despite it being unsafe, "for these people this was home," she said.

Oakes said Social Services had put some residents into hotels but was not sure which hotels or how long they would be staying there.

In an email, Social Services spokesperson Leya Moore said the provincial ministry is working with community partners to help those who were impacted by the evacuation. The department helped about 30 people onsite during the day Tuesday with income support and housing, and aided another five that evening, Moore's email said.

During a joint inspection conducted by the city, fire department and police service, officials found multiple fire code violations and a lack of life-saving measures, according to the city.

While there are no problems with the 113-year-old structure itself, Moose Jaw fire Chief Rod Montgomery said there were several issues with its operation. Missing or inoperable smoke alarms were among the most concerning for the fire chief.

There were also issues with windows that could not be opened, exposed flooring on fire escapes, suites without doors or locks, and combustible materials blocking emergency exits.