What Would You do if This Was Your Loved One?

Protect Calgary Seniors from Becoming Homeless

Why This GoFundMe Exists

This fund has been created to help vulnerable seniors, who are on the verge of becoming homeless due to no fault of their own.

It's to help them navigate the interim period while the legal process unfolds.

It helps ensure that seniors who cannot afford complex legal proceedings, to still have a chance to defend themselves.

The donated funds go directly into an RBC savings account, held in trust by, Castle & Associates . This is for the sole purpose of assisting at the firm’s discretion, the distribution of critical expenses to seniors where required,

Examples:

• court filing fees

• hearing transcripts

• injunction applications to remain in housing

• legal preparation and document management

• emergency support if residents are displaced

How it all started

When some senior ladies walked into the conference room at Castle and Associates, we expected a routine landlord-tenant matter.

What they described, shocked us!

These ladies are living in a building, which is part of The Alberta’s government-subsidized housing system.

They provided signed statements from many other tenants. They all expressed severe concerns, that no elderly person should ever have to live through, and are afraid to speak out for fear of retribution and losing their home.

These are men and women in their 70s, 80s, and beyond, many are Grandparents and Great Grandparents!

Many have had professional background careers, including veterans who served in the armed forces.

Many who have spent their entire lives contributing to this city.

Now, they find themselves fighting for their tenant's rights, to address serious concerns in their buildings, and to ensure the safety and security of a place they can call home, without living in fear of

becoming homeless, at the most vulnerable time of their life,

Listen HERE for the interview on CTV News

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What These Seniors Are Facing

Residents have reported serious safety and living-condition concerns, including:

Then Something Even More Frightening Happened

Some residents who spoke out say they were suddenly faced with termination of their fixed-term leases, without explanation.

For seniors living on limited incomes, this can mean losing their homes with little notice, and nowhere to go, due to the ever increasing waiting list in Calgary for another home, which is currently a minimum of 2 years

Imagine being in your late senior years, and receiving notice that you may need to live in a homeless shelter or worse.

Imagine facing that possibility with:

• age related health issues

• limited income

• no nearby family or anyone that can support you.

One tenant had a heart condition who reportedly passed away shortly after learning of an impending eviction notice, leaving a spouse suddenly displaced and facing that loss, along with the loss of the only residence they were able to afford.

Another tenant has heart failure and severe asthma, and needs to use supplementary oxygen 24/7, which isn't permitted in a homeless shelter;

Another tenant who is an amputee, was told to leave.

Many other concerned tenants have disabilities too, and living in fear of being rendered homeless.

There are many testimonials like these from other concerned tenants who have health challenges too, and living in fear of being rendered homeless.

These stories are heartbreaking—and they are happening right here in Calgary.

Why This Fight Is So Difficult

Under Alberta’s Residential Tenancies Act, fixed-term leases can end without renewal or notice and without explanation from the landlord, even if the tenant has lived in their home for many years and never breached any clause of their lease.

For seniors who are being treated unjustly as a tenant , and living with fear of their tenancy being terminated unfairly, the legal path forward is extremely difficult.

For these seniors to try to fight for their right to stay in their homes, they must:

1. Appear before the Residential Tenancy Dispute Resolution Service (RTDRS)

2. If unsuccessful, usually file an appeal in the Court of King’s Bench of Alberta

3. Order hearing transcripts and pay for them.

4. Meet strict procedural deadlines for filing and service.

5. Apply for a stay of eviction just to remain in their homes while the case proceeds, knowing if the appeal fails they have to leave.

For seniors living on pension income, navigating this process without assistance is often impossible.

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A Legal Challenge Is Underway

Residents have now submitted a legal claim for filing and intend to seek certification of a class action relating to the treatment of seniors in these housing facilities.

The tenants are represented by Castle and Associates in Calgary.

Legal proceedings of this nature take time.

And the most difficult period for these seniors is right now, before legal protections can be fully secured.

Many of these seniors helped build our city.

They taught our children.

They patrolled our streets.

They cared for our sick.

They defended our country.

Now they need Calgary to stand with them.

Mother Teresa once said:

“We have done so much with so little for so very long, that we can now make just about anything out of absolutely nothing.”

Help Protect Calgary’s Seniors

Donate today.

Share this campaign.

Stand up for the people who spent their lives standing up for us.

No contribution is too small.

Whatever contribution amount you can possibly donate, will be gratefully appreciated. It all helps support a senior in their home just a little while longer, while justice works its way forward.

Senior citizens are one of the most vulnerable in our society, and many don't have family or friends to help support them, in their hour of need.

They deserve to live with dignity and security in their golden years.

Thank you