British Columbia

Residents evacuated from Langford apartments say city's financial assistance isn't enough

After residents of RidgeView Place were told to move out after the building was deemed structurally unsafe, they can now apply for financial assistance for rent and other expenses. Funds of up to $2,000 are available based on the needs and income of the residents.

One-time municipal grants of up to $2K are available to residents based on their needs and income levels

A sign outside a glass apartment highrise reads "RidgeView Place, a Centurion property, 2770 Claude Road."
An apartment building in Langford, B.C., that had its occupancy permit revoked twice in 3 ½ years over structural safety concerns. It was renamed RidgeView Place from Danbrook One after the first revocation. (Kathryn Marlow/CBC)

Residents displaced from RidgeView Place in Langford, British Columbia, last month can now apply for financial assistance after their apartment building was deemed structurally unsafe, forcing them out of their homes.

A grant program to support residents has been launched by the City of Langford Community Social Planning Council and supported with donations from local businesses and individuals. 

One-time grants of up to $2,000 are available to help with rent and other costs. 

However, due to limited funds, priority will be given to applicants with disabilities, seniors, families with children, and those with low to moderate incomes. 

Residents say funds don't stretch far enough

Ashley McDonald was one of the residents in the 11-storey building and was suddenly left trying to find alternative housing, 

She says she feels the requirements leave out a large group of residents who are left with no support.

"It was not a cheap building to live in. The cheapest rent in that building for a one-bedroom was In the ballpark of $2,600 a month," McDonald said.

"If you look at the application that they've put forward to determine our eligibility, they say that the cap is $44,000 per household [per year] to be eligible. But if your rent is $2,600 a month and you're making $44,000 gross a year? That's impossible. That's not the demographic of the building I was living in."

A man and a woman stand in front of a blue pickup truck. A dolly on the sidewalk is loaded with a box and two coolers. The woman holds a tool bag.
Residents Matthew Morais and Ariana Kingerski prepare to move their small items out of RidgeView Place apartment building on April 25, 2023. The City of Langford revoked its occupancy permit on April 24 due to structural safety concerns, and residents were told by the owner they could only move out small goods for now. (Kathryn Marlow/CBC)

McDonald says she is concerned residents who need the support won't be able to access it. 

"Our building had a very interesting demographic. It was a lot of young professionals. There were a lot of new Canadians, and there were also quite a few new British Columbians and most of them had kids," she said. "I know that there are people that are still looking."

McDonald has now found a new space to live in and moved in this week.

"It wasn't easy. I was living in a three-bedroom, I'm now living in a two-bedroom. I can't put it on anything other than luck. We kind of knew that we couldn't be super picky," she says.

The provincial government is also contracting a community services navigator to help those affected find long-term housing and access support services. 

Short-term supports for accommodation

Residents were offered short-term support from the province, which included funds to cover five days of accommodation and food. 

The owner of the building, Centurion Property Associates, also offered each resident $2,500

Last month, the apartment building was deemed unsafe following an investigation by Engineering and Geoscientists B.C. (EGBC), the second structural safety risk identified at the building since it was built in 2018.

EGBC continues its investigation of the property. 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Tarnjit Parmar

Associate Producer

Tarnjit Parmar is an Associate Producer for CBC News in Vancouver. Born and raised in South Vancouver, Tarnjit has a background in radio news and a passion for diverse storytelling. You can reach her at tarnjit.parmar@cbc.ca.

With files from All Points West