
Help us seek justice to rebuild our life after arson attack
Donation protected
My name is Laura and my partner's name is Jessel. On Thursday June 19 my partner and I went through the traumatic experience of our home being purposely targeted with arson. I work, and my partner is a student. We lived in the basement unit of a townhouse with all of our memories from our lives. We had been targeted by our landlord since moving in. He would enter our unit and harass us, shut our service without warning us in advance. Our lease included private laundry, but he would enter to do laundry and allowed other tenants as well. He would use his key to enter, and leave it unlocked. When we tried to stand up for us, he ridiculed our concerns about privacy, angered about us telling him what was or wasn't legal. We bought security cameras so we would know if someone had entered our unit since we were concerned for our safety. The morning of June 19, he sent a casual email, sharing that he was evicting us(said the city told him to vacate the space, did not provide any evidence to his claim), which was an illegal eviction notice, telling us we needed to be out by the end of the month(around 11 day-notice). We always paid rent on time, kept to ourselves, and kept our place clean and organized. That afternoon, we were out all day seeking legal advice and filing a report on him with the LTB. After notifying him by text that we had filed a report to the Landlord Tenant Board, in what we assume was a fit of rage, he set fire to our unit downstairs, his own property. A substantial part of our unit is either scorched, damaged with water, or full of smoke and fire debris (pieces of walls, ceiling, wooden furniture pieces, melted home items, etc). The aftermath even left shoes melted to the floor, our fridge melted shut, our books, photos, and memories having either been burnt or damaged by the water used to put out the fire. We had just bought groceries, and that food is not edible now. There was a lot of evidence that he purposely set the fire, especially that our security camera had been unplugged and there was physical evidence left. Neighbours wanted to call 911 and help after noticing the fire, but he denied help. He lived, and continues to live in the house that he set fire himself, out on bail after having been arrested and free to roam as he pleases.
We are trying to save up money to
- Hire a lawyer and pay for legal fees when our case goes into court
- Raise money to afford first and last month rent to find a new place to live
- Replace some of our personal items as much as can be replaced, such as clothing, toiletries, books, textbooks.
- We also would use the money for groceries and regular living expenses while we get back on our feet
We are currently living with family, but want to be back on our feet and to normal life as soon as possible. We would appreciate anything that would help after this traumatic experience. Thank you so much.
Organizer and beneficiary
Laura Varela
Organizer
St. Catharines, ON
Jessel Britanico
Beneficiary