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A Gatineau flood victim told she was losing her emergency home weeks before Christmas has gotten an official reprieve through the end of January from the Quebec government, not only for herself but for dozens of others who could face the same situation.
But even as former Gatineau councillor and unsuccessful mayoral candidate Sylvie Goneau was talking to a reporter Friday morning, she learned of one last bureaucratic hurdle to stay in the Gatineau digs arranged by the Red Cross through next month. That’s when she and her husband take possession of the house they’re building to replace the one destroyed by historic flooding last spring.
“Now I have to get back on the phone and call all of those people to make sure the right hand talks to the left hand so I don’t have to leave on Monday,” she said. “It’s been like this for eight months, that’s why we’re so exhausted that’s why all of this is so hard to bear. It’s the never-ending flood.
“We can never seem to be on secure, high ground. We’re always back. We’re treading water and we’re always, always fighting against the current. It is just unbelievable.”
A spokesperson for Quebec’s Ministry of Public Security confirmed Friday that it will continue its financial assistance to flood victims up to Jan. 31, 2018. The spokesperson didn’t have the exact number of people receiving aid – “it changes daily,” she said – but anyone now receiving assistance will continue to do so.
As of the end of last month, about 70 families were still being lodged in hotels. The Red Cross administers the ministry-funded housing emergency program but the government sets eligibility criteria.
Goneau was first told Monday that Sunday would be their last night at the apartment, leaving them four business days to find a place to live for seven weeks.
She said that it was suggested to her that she, her husband and their dogs move into the one-bedroom apartment being provided to her elderly father until he can move into the family’s new house.
She contacted local members of the national assembly Alexandre Iracà and Marc Carrière and spoke out in the media. By Thursday, she learned of the reprieve through media reports that were confirmed by her MNA.
“I was very happy. because it’s one thing to plead your case but to me it’s only truly a success if it’s good for everyone,” she said. “In eight months, I’ve never come out publicly and asked for help.”
Goneau said she felt she had to speak out about the hurdles flood victims are facing as they try to rebuild their lives because many of them are struggling in silence. At its height in May, the flooding in May forced the evacuation of 541 homes in Gatineau and displaced more than 1,100 people.
“It’s psychologically distressing. … It has to stop. People can’t be living this,” Goneau said.
City of Gatineau officials said they’re in regular contact with the Ministry of Public Security to find solutions when problems arise amid ongoing reconstruction of flood victims’ homes.
The process of assessing and processing the files of people in temporary shelters is the responsibility of the Red Cross. while needs assessments are done by the Ministry of Public Security weekly, the city said.
As of Dec. 4, the city has received applications to demolish 126 flood-damaged homes, 56 of them now completed and 70 in progress, to renovate 298 others and for complete reconstructions to 16 more.
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But even as former Gatineau councillor and unsuccessful mayoral candidate Sylvie Goneau was talking to a reporter Friday morning, she learned of one last bureaucratic hurdle to stay in the Gatineau digs arranged by the Red Cross through next month. That’s when she and her husband take possession of the house they’re building to replace the one destroyed by historic flooding last spring.
“Now I have to get back on the phone and call all of those people to make sure the right hand talks to the left hand so I don’t have to leave on Monday,” she said. “It’s been like this for eight months, that’s why we’re so exhausted that’s why all of this is so hard to bear. It’s the never-ending flood.
“We can never seem to be on secure, high ground. We’re always back. We’re treading water and we’re always, always fighting against the current. It is just unbelievable.”
A spokesperson for Quebec’s Ministry of Public Security confirmed Friday that it will continue its financial assistance to flood victims up to Jan. 31, 2018. The spokesperson didn’t have the exact number of people receiving aid – “it changes daily,” she said – but anyone now receiving assistance will continue to do so.
As of the end of last month, about 70 families were still being lodged in hotels. The Red Cross administers the ministry-funded housing emergency program but the government sets eligibility criteria.
Goneau was first told Monday that Sunday would be their last night at the apartment, leaving them four business days to find a place to live for seven weeks.
She said that it was suggested to her that she, her husband and their dogs move into the one-bedroom apartment being provided to her elderly father until he can move into the family’s new house.
She contacted local members of the national assembly Alexandre Iracà and Marc Carrière and spoke out in the media. By Thursday, she learned of the reprieve through media reports that were confirmed by her MNA.
“I was very happy. because it’s one thing to plead your case but to me it’s only truly a success if it’s good for everyone,” she said. “In eight months, I’ve never come out publicly and asked for help.”
Goneau said she felt she had to speak out about the hurdles flood victims are facing as they try to rebuild their lives because many of them are struggling in silence. At its height in May, the flooding in May forced the evacuation of 541 homes in Gatineau and displaced more than 1,100 people.
“It’s psychologically distressing. … It has to stop. People can’t be living this,” Goneau said.
City of Gatineau officials said they’re in regular contact with the Ministry of Public Security to find solutions when problems arise amid ongoing reconstruction of flood victims’ homes.
The process of assessing and processing the files of people in temporary shelters is the responsibility of the Red Cross. while needs assessments are done by the Ministry of Public Security weekly, the city said.
As of Dec. 4, the city has received applications to demolish 126 flood-damaged homes, 56 of them now completed and 70 in progress, to renovate 298 others and for complete reconstructions to 16 more.
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