
Vacated from co-op minimum 2 months due to mold
Donation protected
Hello, my name is Heather McCain. I am a disabled community activist living in a subsidized Vancouver co-op. My co-op recently found mold in my home and told me to vacate for a minimum of 2 months (possibly more - it has already doubled from the initial 1 month). They are tearing down my kitchen and hallway (at a minimum), and the unit will not be inhabitable for me, my cat, or my belongings.
I need to cover the costs of packing, moving, storage, and accommodation costs. I live on disability, which is just over $1,000 per month. If I wipe out my savings, I can cover packing and moving, and my parents will cover storage costs, which leaves me with accommodation costs. I require a short-term rental in Metro Vancouver that is wheelchair/walker accessible, pet friendly, with a kitchen. From what I can find online, these go for around $4,000 - $6,000 per month.
A complicating factor in this situation is that I am prioritizing my cat's needs. My cat, Nikita, cannot share space with other animals. Nikita was traumatized by another cat, and it has taken me nearly five years to help her undo some of that trauma. However, we still have work to do. For example, if I don't move quickly enough and advance a TikTok video with a cat meow, she gets scared and searches our home for hours. I want to ensure the environment we move to is right for her needs as well as mine. Because of this, she cannot stay in a cattery (cat hotel), with someone other than me or at friends' homes with other animals.
I tried to get my insurance to cover my costs but they said they don't cover mold.
Link for more information about who I am and what I do. It is my profile on the website of Creating Accessible Neighbourhoods , a non-profit I founded in 2005.
Any additional money raised will be used for additional costs and/or additional months (if needed).
Organizer and beneficiary
Heather McCain
Organizer
Vancouver, BC
Gail McCain
Beneficiary