Attack casts fear over housing project

More security sought to protect block’s

More than 200 seniors in a Manitoba Housing Authority (MHA) complex are living in fear after a recent assault left a 68-year-old female resident seriously injured, says a self-appointed spokesperson for the group.

Richard Solomon, who has lived in the MHA building at 101 Marion St. for the past year, says he’s fed up with the authority’s complacency regarding tenant safety.

He insists he will not rest until security is beefed up and living conditions are brought up to standard.

“I will not live in fear in my own (expletive) home,” says Solomon.

He says he has written at least five letters to MHA requesting improvements to security and regular maintenance to the building and its units.

“Something has to be done. I’m talking immediately, not in six months or a year”

On Nov. 25, a mentally-challenged senior naively permitted two women, who do not live in the building but had been let in by someone else, into her home. The women subsequently robbed, beat, and stabbed her.

Solomon says while this incident was the incentive for his aggressive involvement, troubling events have been occurring for years.

“Most of the people in this building are wonderful,” says Solomon.

“But there are between seven and 10 miscreants – drug dealers, crack pushers, criminals – who live here who continuously make this place dangerous for everyone else. They let anyone and everyone in here.”

Solomon says the problems spike every time welfare cheques come out, as hordes of shady characters descend on the building.

Solomon says he often sees small-scale drug deals going down, and tenants often complain of people knocking on tenants’ doors begging for money.

Vagrants and other miscreants often wander the building or use laundry facilities intended for tenants.

Solomon says some seniors in the building pay others to do their laundry for them or have stopped washing their clothes completely, due to fear of facing these vagrants who they say are rude and intimidating.

On Nov. 20, Solomon organized an emergency meeting to address the concerns.

St. Boniface MLA Greg Selinger and community officers from the Winnipeg Police Service were met by more than 150 residents who wanted to see change.

The following day, Solomon met with investigators from Manitoba Justice, the authority’s regional manager Rhonda McLeod, its security and loss prevention manger Matt Frizzell, and Const. Robert Young of the Winnipeg Police Service’s planned response unit.

The acting general manager of the MHA, Thomas Moody, was also there.

Solomon faxed a letter of concern, inviting St. Boniface Coun. Dan Vandal, but did not hear from him until five days later.

Since that meeting, there have been some improvements – including 24-hour security personnel, video surveillance, and changed locks on the stairwell doors.

Tenants received a letter dated Nov. 24 from MHA property manager, Pat Castle, outlining the improvements and offering suggestions for personal safety.

But Solomon says he was informed by Moody these security steps are a pilot project, and there are limited funds for long-term improvements.

Solomon says he’s noticed that the authority tends to cancel its efforts once the media move on to other stories.

“I will be a thorn in their side,” says Solomon, who says he frequently patrols the halls nightly with another resident.

“We are all on fixed incomes here, and the poor security, condition of these apartments, and the building itself is unbelievable,” says Solomon. “They really should pay me their salaries, because I’m doing their damn jobs.”

By press time representatives from MHA had not returned repeated calls and e-mails.

Coun. Vandal, who met with Solomon on Nov. 24, says he plans to meet with members of the Winnipeg Police Service to see how extra support can be provided.

He hopes to re-establish a community police office in the building that was relocated to St. Vital a few years ago.

“As always, resources and funding are the main concern,” he said. “But we have to make this a priority when people are not feeling safe. We all have a responsibility to make sure people feel safe in their homes.”

Vandal acknowledged the MHA should provide more input and communicate better but says he has no reason to doubt they will not take action.

The St. Boniface councillor, who is also a member of the Norwood BIZ, says he will meet with the BIZ to see how the community street patrols can contribute to the area’s security.

But Solomon, who has not slept properly since getting involved, says he will continue his fight.

“I’m not asking too much,” he says, adding he has to place a chair against his door because the lock is not strong enough to keep out intruders.

“All we ask is to be safe in our own homes and to have our building and units properly cared for.”