Tenants of central Mississauga apartment building fight for accessibility, better maintenance
Published November 25, 2021 at 2:23 pm
Tenants of a central Mississauga apartment building are speaking out about what they say is a lack of accessibility for those with disabilities, among other issues of cleanliness and maintenance.
The group of about 10 tenants will meet this afternoon outside the complex at 2070 Camilla Rd., located just north of the QEW and east of Hurontario St.
Organizers say those in attendance will share stories and offer support to one another before delivering a letter outlining their concerns, and demands, to the management office.
In addition to a lack of accessibility, tenants also claim the building, including hallways and inside the rental units, is poorly maintained.
Robin Vanderfleet, a leader of Peel ACORN, an independent social and economic justice group that’s organizing the event, said tenants are also advocating for tougher municipal regulations governing rental buildings.
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“It should be against the law for apartment buildings not to have automatic door openers for tenants with disabilities,” said Vanderfleet, adding the group is also demanding building management complete repairs more quickly.
One tenant of the building recently suffered a workplace injury and now uses a wheelchair. She’s had difficulty getting in and out of the building via the lobby, organizers say.
The woman often strains to open the door and at other times must wait for someone else to come along and help her.
Tenants are also gathering today in support of a proposed City of Mississauga pilot project that would regulate the renting of apartment building units and hold building operators to account, via penalties, for proper maintenance.
The Apartment Building Standards and Maintenance Pilot Program is expected to be discussed again at a City budget committee meeting this Monday.
Among other things, the program includes a call for 10 new bylaw enforcement officers who would monitor buildings throughout the city.
Peel ACORN says it’s been lobbying for such a program for two years in hopes of holding landlords accountable for buildings in poor condition.
