Upgrades to P.E.I. seniors housing get lukewarm reaction from some residents

The P.E.I. government is investing millions into some much-needed improvements at its seniors housing complexes, but some residents say they were hoping more could be done.

The province's current five-year capital budget has earmarked over $21 million for repairs and upgrades to the buildings, including $4.3 million this year. 

The upgrades include new windows and doors, electrical work to allow for the installation of emergency generators, and repairs to sidewalks and parking lots. 

Some residents told CBC News they still have concerns about the security, air quality and emergency readiness in their buildings. And they said some of the repairs on the list didn't happen. 

Residents upset P.E.I. government hasn't yet solved big problems in seniors housing

4 months ago

Duration 2:03

Seniors living in provincial housing are frustrated at the state of some of their apartment buildings. There are security concerns in one building. Other apartments don't have heat pumps, and leaks in some facilities have been an ongoing problem. The provincial government says it has earmarked $20 million for repairs at some of the facilities.

"We were supposed to get the windows, doors and heat pumps," said Donna Brehaut, who lives in a provincially run apartment building on Hunt Avenue in Charlottetown. 

"Then we were told… they backed out on our heat pumps and our doors. And our doors are on backwards, so I would really like my door changed." 

She said the door hinges being on the outside of her unit make it a safety risk, since it would be relatively easy for someone intent on coming in to simply take the hinges off.

Seniors living at Huntingdon Court went 10 days without power after post-tropical storm Fiona hit the province in 2022. 

While work has now been done to upgrade the electrical system to allow for a permanent generator to be installed, that hasn't been done yet. 

"I think we should have a generator. Just that simple. Don't wait and be sorry that you didn't do something. All talk and no action gets you nowhere, and the tenants here are mostly seniors," said resident Adeline Smith.

"We had to empty our freezers and throw everything out [after Fiona], and we are subsidized here. When you're on a low income, it's not easy when you have to throw your food out." 

A spokesperson for the P.E.I. government said the work being done this year is extensive, including new metal roofs; window and door replacements; electrical, heating and insulation upgrades; and new sprinkler systems. 

The province said electrical upgrades to allow for emergency generator use are currently underway at: 

• 22 Frank Mellish St., Summerside
• 145 Nancy Guptill Ave., Summerside
• 28 and 34 Hunt Ave., Charlottetown
• 409 Queen St., Charlottetown
• 501 Queen St., Charlottetown
• 9 Champion Court, Charlottetown

Liberal MLA Gord McNeilly, who represents the residents at Huntingdon Court, said he worries about air quality and how hot the aging buildings get in the summer. 

While he welcomed the repairs that are getting done, he said the province should have budgeted more money for the projects. 

"We're in a crisis here, the way we're maintaining these buildings, and although some money has gone in, it's not enough because of the sheer number of repairs that need to be done on these buildings," McNeilly said. 

"I know generators are expensive but our seniors are worth it." 

Back at Huntingdon Court, with storm season approaching, the residents say they don't want to be left in the dark for 10 days — or longer — ever again. 

Brehaut would like to see the building immediately get a generator of some sort, whether it powers the entire complex or just a portion. 

"The warming centre they were talking about, to have in the common room, I think they should go ahead and get that done," she said. "It's getting late now in the year and we're going to be screwed this winter if we get another [storm]."