Following a tragic fire at Rose Manor in Fort Frances last month, housing advocates are working diligently to secure new accommodations for the 31 tenants affected by the incident. The fire, which took the life of a 92-year-old resident, caused significant damage to the seniors’ home, rendering it uninhabitable until at least next year.
Insurance coverage will support emergency lodging for the displaced tenants until mid-November, after which they will need to find alternative housing arrangements.
The District of Rainy River Services Board (DRRSB), responsible for Rose Manor, a senior living facility offering 35 rent-geared-to-income units, is now seeking assistance from private landlords, property owners, and the community to provide temporary housing solutions for the affected residents.
Charene Gillies, the chief administrative officer of DRRSB. (DRRSB photo)
Charene Gillies, the chief administrative officer of DRRSB, stated that they are exploring various avenues for additional financial support to assist tenants who may struggle to secure new housing by November 15 due to the challenging housing market in Fort Frances and the wider Rainy River District.
Gillies emphasized the scarcity of affordable housing in the region but mentioned that DRRSB is making efforts to prepare available units to accommodate as many displaced tenants as possible, albeit with limited capacity.
-
Seniors displaced by fatal fire in Fort Frances, Ont., won’t be able to return until next year
-
92-year-old dies in fire at Fort Frances seniors’ building, Ontario and police investigate
The fire incident is currently under investigation by the Ontario Provincial Police and Office of the Fire Marshal, with no preliminary findings disclosed as of yet.
‘Turn that readiness into new homes’
Fort Frances, home to approximately 7,500 residents, is addressing the housing shortage by collaborating with District Social Services Administration Boards to develop new housing projects across 10 communities through the Northern Ontario Service Deliverers Association (NOSDA) Housing Portfolio Project. This initiative aims to construct over 1,200 units, starting with more than 600 affordable homes.
One of the proposed developments includes up to 58 units in Fort Frances, although specific timelines for these projects have not been provided yet.
