Salus in need of urgent donations

Good evening, Kitchissippi. I've received the following from Salus executive director Mark MacAulay with awful news about their building at Athlone and Scott. Tenants have lost food and possessions and there is an urgent need for your financial donations as soon as you can.

Please read the message below then visit Salus here (https://www.salusottawa.org/support-salus/) to make a donation. There is a box in which you can leave a message about your gift where you can note that your gift is for "Flood recovery".

I will be in touch with the City to urge immediate financial assistance, but your timely donations are very much needed tonight.

Thank you.

During the weekend’s bitter cold temperatures, a sprinkler pipe burst at one of our Salus-owned independent living apartment buildings on Saturday morning. This building on Athlone at Scott provides supportive and deeply affordable housing for 42 tenants with mental health and substance use health challenges. All tenants have limited income and many receive ODSP.

The building was flooded and is uninhabitable. Our staff responded immediately. The building was evacuated Saturday and our tenants have all been temporarily re-housed. Some tenants are in hotels and some are with family.

This afternoon, media were given tours to see the extent of the damage, and speak with me and our support staff. We anticipate being on CTV, and CBC TV and radio in the coming days.

Tenants have temporarily lost their homes and have had to leave most of their possessions behind. This is very upsetting, particularly for people already living with mental health and substance use health challenges. Most tenants do not have tenant insurance. The cost to temporarily house tenants is significantly higher than what insurance will cover. Some tenants had already stocked their fridge for the month. All need financial support to replace food they left behind. Many left possessions behind that have likely been destroyed. 

Salus is still learning the extent of the damage, how long repairs will take, and what the costs will be. We will continue to keep you posted as we learn more.

Thank you in advance for your support during this challenging time.