‘I don’t want to leave’: Regina seniors frustrated over being asked to move from long-time public housing units

Longtime Regina Housing residents say they are being asked to relocate under program changes aimed at balancing senior and family housing.

Seniors and longtime Regina Housing residents are feeling dismayed at the idea of being forced to move from their homes.

Deb Stumph has lived at her apartment on Rochdale Boulevard for 30 years. However, she was informed by the Regina Housing Authority that she would need to leave and find a new designated location due to changes to the program.

At 74-years-old, Stumph said it would seriously uproot her life.

“I don’t want to leave. That’s my home for 30 years,” she said.

“I have friends there, I have everything I need: groceries, doctors, a park right across the street, Doug Wickenheiser Arena, a bus service. I just don’t want to leave and I don’t understand.”

During question period Tuesday, Minister of Social Services Terry Jenson said it was the Saskatchewan’s Housing Corporation’s responsibility to ensure that locally appointed housing authorities like Regina’s have the right mixture of housing.

Jenson added that there are many available units for seniors in Regina, but not a lot for families, which is what prompted the request for seniors to move.

“We have $86 million committed in this budget for renovations and repairs across the province, including Regina, so we can increase the number of family units,” the minister said.

“We’re simply asking families, including all seniors, to maybe just consider having that suite available for a family.”

However, Stumph said the move feels discriminatory.

“That’s just not right. I have to start all over again, why should I at 74-years-old?”

Rickey Lamha has lived in the apartment complex for 13 years. He also expressed frustration at the idea of being uprooted, which he’s being asked to do once he turns 55.

“You’re not shuffling your cabinet around, you’re shuffling people around and that’s not right,” he said.

Lamha added that he and Stumph had formed a strong sense of community with their neighbours and the surrounding area.

“I got my family within minutes, my support systems that have taken five to six years to put in place, my family doctor, I’ve had modifications done to my suite for my disability which I don’t want to use as an excuse,” he said.

“You’re part of the community. Church across the street — everything. We should not have to be uprooted … why would you make it harder for seniors to move? It’s hard enough when you’re young to get people to move.”

Lamha said longtime residents should be exempt from having to move due to policy changes like this one.

NDP MLA and housing critic April ChiefCalf said Regina still has a number of vacant units which could be used to prevent issues like this.

“We just don’t understand why the provincial government isn’t giving the regional housing authorities the money that they need to renovate [and] repair these units and get them open to people so that they’re not shuffling people around from one unit to another to create vacancies,” she told reporters.

“There are vacancies already.”

During question period, Minister Jenson agreed to meet with Stumph and Lamha later on Tuesday to learn more about their situation.

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