Fire in Jonquière: housing sought for around thirty victims



Representatives of theOMH of Saguenay met Monday afternoon the 52 victims who were evacuated in the night from Thursday to Friday when a fire broke out in their building which has about fifty low-rent housing (HLM) and which houses several elders.

The meeting took place at the Motel Princesse, in Jonquière, where several victims were temporarily housed by the Red Cross. Some residents are staying at the Le Montagnais hotel in Chicoutimi, while others have found refuge with relatives.

The meeting, which was to last 30 minutes, stretched out for about an hour in order to answer questions from the victims. Social workers were also present to support those affected.

Residents are now supported by theOMHwhich manages the building, as the 72-hour emergency aid from the Red Cross comes to an end.

The damage suffered by the building, built in 1939, is still being evaluated.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Myriam Gauthier

A private appeal

L’OMH Saguenay is trying to find housing in its housing stock, but is also appealing to the private sector to be able to temporarily house disaster victims, said Arianne Villeneuve, director of customer service within the organization, during a press briefing. held after the meeting.

Steps are underway to effectively relocate them for a longer period, both in our homes and in private markets. We are calling for help from private landlords to give us some accommodation, if there are any left. »

A quote from Arianne Villeneuve, Director of Customer Service atOMH Saguenay

However, the challenge remains daunting, in the context of a housing shortage in Saguenay. L’OMH also lent a hand last week to residents evacuated to La Baie by providing them with housing.

In our real estate portfolio, we are taking steps to put some into the rental process quickly.she added, adding that the team is working very strong currently.

Those responsible for theOMH are also working to determine the number of residents who have insurance in order to specify how many tenants will need the help of the organization.

The general manager of theOMH, Éric Gauthier, estimated on Monday afternoon that around thirty people would need temporary accommodation. The organization ensures that no one will be left homeless.

Arianne Villeneuve, director of customer service at the Office municipal d’habitation de Saguenay

Photo: Radio-Canada / Jonathan Lamothe

Little hope of being able to reintegrate

Victims met at the end of the meeting had little hope of being able to recover their property or return to the building which was heavily damaged by the flames, but also by smoke and water during the intervention of firefighters .

There’s no one who can go in yet, we don’t even know yet if the building is safe enough for us to go in. Then from what they told us, there is nothing recoverable shared Isabelle Tremblay, who had just moved into the building about a year ago.

We have to find accommodation, they will try to find suitable accommodation for us. said another disaster victim, Sylvie Simard, who had lived in the building for 11 years.

Some victims, like her, will stay in hotels until new accommodation is found. At the start of the summer holidays, free rooms are sometimes difficult to find for theOMH and some hotels are full.

The building affected by the fire, on the night of Thursday to Friday, is a former boarding school of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, which has been converted into a building offering low-rent housing (HLM).

Photo: Radio-Canada / Roby St-Gelais

For many victims, the meeting was emotional, as they do not yet know where they will be staying next.

How do I feel? Not well, not well at all. No, it hurts me a lot, then it hurts me, dropped Myriam Tremblay, who was in front of the Motel Princesse, with the few luggage she had left. She was in a cottage when the fire broke out.

The assessed damage

The evacuation of residents could stretch, while the building suffered significant damage. The assessment of the damage and the causes of the fire continues.

An engineer from theOMH was commissioned to assess the structure of the building. This evaluation will then make it possible to decide on the future of the former boarding school of the Soeurs du Bon-Pasteur, built in 1939 and converted into an apartment building in 1985.

We were able to target two sections of the building. There is a section which is really at risk of collapsing, but which will require protective measures before being able to assess further. »

A quote from Danick Chayer, project manager at theOMH Saguenay

Another section remains safer. The water really caused damage on the three landings, the three levelsadded Mr. Chayer.

All scenarios are currently being considered by theOMHincluding that of a reconstruction of the building.

It was on this side of the building that the fire started.

Photo: Radio-Canada / Roby St-Gelais

It is also too early for the least affected victims to recover personal effects. Many had only their night clothes on when they were evacuated.

Responders were however able to return to the scene from the fire, in search of personal effects important to the health of some victims.

The scene remains carefully monitored, while firefighters had to intervene again Monday morning to extinguish a fire in the rubble.



Reference-ici.radio-canada.ca

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