Laura Smallud was told that if she wanted to get into her home this week, she would have to call the fire department and ask them to carry her — and her 136-pound wheelchair — up a flight of stairs to her apartment at 145 Clarence Street.
Residents say both of the building’s elevators have been out of service for a week, stranding more than a dozen people who use mobility devices. The nonprofit that owns the building warned it would likely have to wait another week before it could be repaired.
“It pretty much leaves me homeless,” Smallud said, waiting on the sidewalk outside while her mother went upstairs to get some food and other supplies.
The two had just returned from vacation, and Smallwood said that while they were gone, her brother was trying to find answers about how she was supposed to get into the apartment when she returned.
The firefighters were then first proposed by the Centretown Citizens Ottawa Corporation (CCOC), which manages the building, she said.
“The possibility of my wheelchair … or myself dropping going up the stairs, that’s not a reasonable option,” Smallud said.
The CCOC said it had no employees available for an interview Friday and did not directly respond to questions emailed by CBC, but did share its latest update on tenants.
A notice warns tenants at 145 Clarence Street that both elevators in the building are out of service. (Francis Ferland/CBC)
Building owner says damage to parts ‘unusual’
It cited a “component failure” affecting both elevators, noting that the cabins were “regularly serviced” and calling the failure “very unusual.”
The update adds that the damaged component can only be supplied by a specific supplier.
“Although we are putting a lot of pressure on the supplier, the component is unlikely to be here until next week,” it said, adding that the company that manufactures the part understands the urgency of the situation.
But Smallwood said the twin elevator outage was just the latest of many that left at least one of the elevators out of service for hours.
She called the problem “highly preventable” and called for the problematic elevators to be replaced.
Gerry Ward said the broken elevator at 145 Clarence St. left him stuck in his apartment and relying on a friend to bring him food. (Francis Ferland/CBC)
Past issues left the tenant stranded for hours
While Smallwood is stuck outside the building, Gerry Ward is trapped inside.
“For me personally, it drives me crazy,” he said.
Summer days are precious because he largely stays indoors in the winter, he said.
“I just don’t want to see a snowflake when [the elevator] works.”
With no way to get downstairs, Ward can’t explore the city and has to turn to a friend who lives in another building to get him food.
He agreed with Smallwood that the elevators were “an accident waiting to happen” and described situations where people who live at 145 Clarence and use wheelchairs were forced to sleep sitting in the lobby.
“A lot of times I’ve been down there for, I don’t know, hours,” Ward said.
“The last time the engine went out like that, it took eight months. So in the back of my head I just don’t know if I can trust them.”
Gerry Ward says he’s pretty much stuck in his apartment in the winter, making the summer months a crucial time to explore and enjoy the city. (Francis Ferland/CBC)
CCOC’s website states that it is a nonprofit housing organization that works to create and maintain housing for low- and moderate-income people.
The update said it maintains a list of those who need help and that officials have contacted them. CCOC also mentions a partnership with VHA Home HealthCare offering 24/7 support, which it says supports a “significant number of tenants who have mobility issues.”
Smallwood said she will be living in her mother’s apartment during the week, which will require removing bedroom and bathroom doors so her wheelchair can fit.
Although she is grateful for a place to stay, it does not have an accessible shower.
“It really makes people feel a lot more vulnerable in a situation where they shouldn’t have to, which is in their homes,” she said.
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