42 men return to units at downtown Hamilton YMCA after fire

After 11 days of uncertainty, 42 men displaced by a fire at the YMCA in downtown Hamilton got to return to their units on Friday afternoon.

Lorne Draper, who turned 59 on Friday, told CBC Hamilton it was a "great" birthday gift.

"The clouds have opened up. Look what it brought us today," he said with a smile.

"I miss my own space."

On July 22, a fire ripped through the third floor of the building on James Street South, leaving 173 tenants displaced and causing around $1 million in damage.

It also shuttered services at the branch including a fitness and aquatic centre, a newcomer youth centre and EarlyON child care drop-in centre. Those facilities remained closed as of Friday.

"I really couldn't believe it was happening," 34-year-old tenant Michael Graham said about the fire. Graham was also able to move back into his second-floor unit Friday.

During the fire, 24 people had to be rescued out of the building and 11 were taken to hospital, but have since been released, according to Manny Figueiredo, who is the local YMCA's president and chief executive officer.

The tenants are part of the men's residence program, which offers transitional, affordable housing and supports "men at risk," who face health and social challenges.

It's unclear what caused the "intense" fire but Figueiredo said it started in someone's room. He added it wasn't arson, mechanical, electrical or caused by anything smouldering.

Graham and another displaced tenant, 60-year-old James Boone, said they felt YMCA took too long to get people back into their units.

Figueiredo said he understands some people's frustrations — especially because it may look like many of their rooms are fine — but there may be asbestos, smoke and other factors the charity has to deal with before allowing tenants back in.

He also noted staff have been working around the clock to support tenants and find accommodations for them.

About 70 men slept on cots throughout the building Thursday night.

Another 65 men have found accommodations elsewhere including staying with friends and family, hotels paid for by the YMCA, Mission Services, Good Shepherd and Wilfrid Laurier University Brantford Campus. Tenants previously told CBC Hamilton some men were sleeping outside or on the street as well. 

It's unclear when the third floor, where the fire started, will reopen but Figueiredo said tenants who live on the fourth and fifth floors will hopefully be able to return to their units within the next two weeks.

The second floor suffered minimal damage from smoke and water, unlike the fourth and fifth floors, which got smoked out.

That smoke on the fourth and fifth floors may have damaged some people's belongings or rendered them unsafe due to carcinogens in the soot, Figueiredo said.

It means the YMCA may have to dispose of some people's valuables, he said. 

"Is there an amount where they get a lump sum to replace it or is there an option where they can get it cleaned, but who takes care of that?" Figueiredo said.

"It's a serious concern … people's identities are in their rooms. A family portrait or a jacket from a relative ... How do we find the balance between that?"

Fitness centre to remain closed next week

He hopes other YMCA services like the fitness centre will be able to re-open in the next few weeks.

YMCA members will get credit for the time they couldn't use services and tenants will get some form of rent reimbursement, he added.

The YMCA is expecting to get a six-figure lump sum payment from insurance as it continues to spend money in the fire's aftermath, Figueiredo said. He said conversations with insurance have been "productive."

He added he's grateful for the community support which has come in the form of $105,000 in donations, food and more.

Help has come from the private sector, the city, Red Cross, Good Shepherd, Mission Services, Salvation Army, Goodwill, Carmens, Zarky's and food trucks, among others.

"Who hasn't helped, that's the question?"