City closes Burris and Proctor lodges and is moving out residents
Nineteen ‘vulnerable’ tenants are being displaced because of ‘ongoing and serious concerns’ over care
City of Hamilton workers are struggling to find homes for 19 displaced tenants of two residential care facilities that were being shut down Thursday.
Burris Lodge at 28 Burris St. and St. Francis Lodge at 57 Proctor Blvd. have been the subject of a city investigation of “ongoing and serious concerns regarding the care of residents,” says Rob Mastroianni, from the city housing division.
The city issued a “cease and desist” order in August to the operator, Brampton-based Genesis Lodge Residential Care Facilities, saying that all residents were to be moved and placed in other suitable housing by Sept. 26.
The order came after the city refused an applica
Peter, a resident at Burris Lodge, sits on the front step on Thursday. City staff were working with those living at the residential care facility to find them new homes.
tion by Genesis to renew its licence in late July amid the municipality taking over “vital services” to keep the lodges operating. Since June, the city has been paying for utilities and overseeing operations while the company was given time to wind down.
“City staff have been in constant attendance at those two facilities. We have been making sure that staffing has been maintained and proper food,” said Jim Gordon, from the city’s licensing department.
Shane, a resident, told The Spectator he only learned from staff on Monday that he would have to leave, and was making arrangements to move in with a relative.
Meanwhile, the properties have been taken over by Elle Mortgages/APEX Property Management, after the company received a default judgment against Genesis, said Gordon. Spokespersons from Genesis and the mortgage company could not be reached.
The closure comes after several years of serious issues under different owners that came to a head in June 2016.
There was a then-unprecedented emergency resettlement effort by the City of Hamilton to deal with 45 residents at Burris, St. Francis and two other facilities.
Genesis emerged the following year as a new operator with plans to turn things around at Burris and St. Francis — and received a licence to do it. Company official Sandra Johnson told The Spectator at that time, “If you fix up the place properly and things are done to run it properly, there shouldn’t be a problem.”
Residential care facilities, of which there are dozens in the city, are privately owned and operate as businesses. They are intended to provide permanent housing, meals and assistance with daily living for the city’s most vulnerable, low-income residents — people who are frail and elderly, or have mental illnesses, developmental disabilities, addictions or other special needs.
Ward 3 Coun. Nrinder Nann said “they have left a very vulnerable segment of our population in a horrible position of finding housing at the last minute.”
“It is absolutely appalling to me that any privately operating business could bring itself to that level of operation ... It think it is absolutely deplorable.”
Mastroianni says “city staff are on-site, engaging and developing a housing plan with each resident.
Staff will work with each resident to transition to other appropriate housing options wherever possible.”
That process will continue and will “include moving belongings if needed.”
Matt Lawson, of the city’s public health services, said a lack of food and staffing at the Genesis facilities have been an ongoing problem.
“The city tries to manage this as best we can. But there is the element of responsibility for the individuals running these facilities. We are concerned with the residents and try to have them in good shape. But I guess we are being tested here,” he said.
The closure comes after several years of serious issues under different owners that came to a head in June 2016 with an unprecedented emergency resettlement effort by the City of Hamilton dealing with 45 residents at Burris, St. Francis and two other facilities.