Good news for Emerald Lodge evacuees: most have new homes
Five days after an evacuation, most residents of the now-shuttered Emerald Lodge Residential Care Facility have new homes, the city says.
On Friday, nearly 30 residents of Emerald Lodge, a home for people with disabilities or low incomes, located at 83-85 Emerald St. S., were forced to leave with no notice after conditions at the home deteriorated. Doors had been kicked in, pests were found in a food storage area and a fire escape had been bolted shut, the city reported.
Most were moved to a shelter at the former Cathedral Boys' School, though the city said it was eager to find them permanent housing.
As of Wednesday, 18 have just that - permanent homes.
It's great news," said Paul Johnson, who is both director of the Emergency Operations Centre stickhandling the city's pandemic response and the city's manager of healthy and safe communities.
Johnson previously called Friday a tough day," noting some residents were confused or angry that they had to leave, though many were relieved to know they were going somewhere safer.
Emerald Lodge is owned and was operated by members of the Martino family, the same family that owns the Rosslyn Retirement Residence, site of Hamilton's worst COVID-19 outbreak. Emerald Lodge, which is subsidized by the city, is currently in receivership after defaulting on mortgage payments. It is set to be sold. The receiver, Grant Thornton LLP, called in the city to facilitate the evacuation after the operator had recently failed to show up. The receiver terminated the operator on Friday.
A total of 37 people were residing at the home, though seven were not there when the evacuation unfolded, Johnson said. Three of the 30 who were moved made their own arrangements and didn't go to a shelter.
Of the 27 the city was able to assist, 18 have either already moved or have secured housing and will soon move. Johnson said he wasn't sure how many were moving into other residential care facilities versus other accommodations. Seven residents are still in the shelter, with the city helping them find new homes.
Two are in hospital, though Johnson didn't have details on why. No residents have COVID, he confirmed.
Johnson noted that if any of the seven who were not at the home need to get back in to collect belongings, they should contact the city.
Katrina Clarke is a Hamilton-based reporter at The Spectator. Reach her via email: katrinaclarke@thespec.com