Mount Royal Hotel forced to close after failing inspection

A few weeks ago CityNews toured the Mount Royal Hotel, where tenants on employment and income assistance were living in conditions they described as ‘hell on earth’. Since then, the Public Health Inspector has issued a Health Hazard Order, ordering the building closed, leaving dozens of low-income tenants without homes.

Other agencies issued health orders as well, including the City of Winnipeg, Community By-Law Enforcement, Winnipeg Fire Prevention Orders and Planning Property and Development Orders.

Housing advocate Nick McIvor was on the ground helping residents who lost their home.

“A lot of people were mad, I remember talking to a few of them who were frustrated because they liked how things were. But they were just stuck in the cycle of addiction,” explained McIvor.

“They had to go and find other placements because of the condition of the place.”

In an email, to CityNews, the province said they found walls and ceilings in disrepair, plumbing systems in poor working order or not working at all, doors to suites unable to be locked, and bedbugs and cockroaches throughout the building.

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McIvor says tenants became complacent because this was the only option they thought they had. But now, a tenant he worked with closely is thriving.

“She was getting moved into housing in West K. She’s happy and thriving so I think it was a good call to shut that place down.”

CityNews spoke with the building’s owners, who agreed to an interview, but has since not returned any calls or texts.

Jason Whitford, CEO of End Homelessness Winnipeg says his organization, along with a network of community resources stepped up to provide case management support to 25 of the 30-40 displaced tenants already.

“The housing situation is not good. We need an influx of funding, we need a variation of housing resources, low income, transitional, supportive, long term. We needed them yesterday, we needed them many years ago,” explained Whitford.

Whitford says their last street census showed the need for 1800-2500 housing units in Winnipeg, and he says it’s likely risen.

McIvor hopes inspectors can locate other low-income housing in this condition and get repairs started there as well.

According to the province, the improvements outlined by all agencies need to be completed before occupancy will be granted to the hotel again.