Multiple West End apartments in receivership putting strain on low-barrier housing

Housing advocates in Winnipeg warn low-barrier options for people with mental health and addictions issues are becoming harder to find, as buildings that served vulnerable people are put up for sale or burn down.

Last week, CBC News reported the Adanac apartment building on Sargent Avenue was put into receivership last December and listed for sale.

Two other buildings in the West End, linked to the same owners, are also in receivership.

A Court of King's Bench judge ordered the properties at 485 Furby St. and 480 Young St. into receivership in March 2023.

All three properties belonged to Patrick Penner, and his wife Karin Harper-Penner.

CBC News tried to contact the Penners, but did not receive a response.

Coun. Cindy Gilroy(Daniel McIntyre) knows the properties well they were often the source of calls to firefighters and police.

"I think the community will be happy [about the sales], because there's so many problems coming out of those buildings. But in reality it was a home for many people as well," Gilroy said in an interview.

The City of Winnipeg ordered the Adanac apartments vacated in August last yearafter failed safety inspections.

Before it was shut down, the fire prevention branch had visited the Adanac more than 100 times since 2019, a city spokesperson said previously. Fire crews also responded to 11 fires inside the building in 2022 and 2023.

Some former residents who had previously lived in encampments returned to the streets. Gilroy worries the sale of the buildings could make it harder for homeless outreach groups to find places for people to live: "Every time that we do lose housing stock that we house hard-to-house people, it is a fear of mine."

Supports needed

"The low-barrier housing that is provided through the Penners is extremely important," saidMichelle Wesley, the outreach co-ordinator with St. Boniface Street Links whohas worked frequently with the Penners to house people. "And them closing down is actually putting the housing in a really tough position."

The sale of the buildings, along with events including the fire at a Toronto Street apartment building earlier this month, put further strain on the housing options available for people, Wesley said.

St. Boniface executive director Marion Willis says landlords need to be supported to help keep people housed.

"It's actual services in the building to prevent the fires and to prevent the violence and the drug use, and so onso that people can actually stabilize."

Gilroy hopes the provincial government will step in to help community groups buy the buildings and turn them into supportive housing.

City council passed a motion asking the province of Manitoba to consider licensing and standards requirements "for low-barrier buildings" that are primarily occupied by people who access provincial programs including employment and income assistance.

"We need really good landlord that are willing to do the maintenance work that's involved. But we also need a provincial body to really understand that there needs to be more supports in these buildings," she said.

Multiple West End apartments in receivership putting strain on low-barrier housing

7 months ago

Duration 1:55

Housing advocates in Winnipeg warn low-barrier options for people with mental health and addictions issues are becoming harder to find, as buildings that served vulnerable people are put up for sale or burn down.