David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @alllibertynews and 49 others
Methinks if Trudeau the Younger can compel the provinces to house all the illegal immigrants he welcomed into the Canada in return the least he can do is take good care of their health care staff N'esy Pas?
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2020/04/ottawa-nurse-says-pandemic-panic-has.html
https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/nurse-homeless-covid-pandemic-coronavirus-ottawa-1.5518449
Ottawa nurse says pandemic panic has left her homeless
She says she lost the room she was renting — and no one will rent to her now because of her work
· CBC News · Posted: Apr 02, 2020 4:00 AM ET
Ottawa nurse Kathrine Slinski says she's struggling to find a place to live because no one wants to rent to her in the middle of a pandemic. (Kathrine Slinski)
Health care workers are already facing added stress and personal danger because of COVID-19. Now, one Ottawa nurse says fear of the disease has also left her homeless.
Kathrine Slinski told CBC News she was almost done moving house on Tuesday when she got a text from her new landlady.
"Please call me asap. I'm really sorry. I have some bad news."
Slinski said the woman told her she no longer wanted to rent her a room in her home because of her job — despite the fact the nurse had signed a lease the week before and paid her first and last months' rent.
"She was concerned that I would expose her to the COVID virus and since she was considered a high-risk person, she just couldn't rent the room to me," she said.
'I have nowhere to go'
Slinski is a community care nurse who deals frequently with palliative care patients. She said she'd already discussed with the landlord all the precautions she would take when arriving home from her job — washing her hands thoroughly, removing her work clothing and ensuring it's properly cleaned.
She said she feels some sympathy for the landlord.
"I can absolutely understand her point of view and agree with her concerns," she said.
"I'm just upset because she chose the day I was supposed to be moving into her home when I've already made all the arrangements and paid her all the money. And now I have nowhere to go."
Her job has continued to frustrate her hunt for another place to stay, Slinski said.
She said she convinced the landlord to let her stay one night and is now spending a few days with a stranger who reached out after hearing about her through Facebook. But Slinski said she's learning that no one wants to rent to a nurse in the middle of a pandemic.
'Saddened and upset'
Slinski said she's been open about her job when reaching out to prospective landlords. Several have told her they "just don't want to take the risk," she said. She did view one room up for rent, but said she was told afterward the other tenant was uncomfortable with the idea of living with a health care worker.
"I do understand that they're concerned and I would be, too," she said. "But as a human being who serves my public and serves my community and puts a lot of life into it, I'm really kind of saddened and upset that I have no place to go and no one to help me."
CBC News spoke with the landlord who changed her mind about renting to Slinski. The woman, who didn't want her name used, said she has emphysema and still takes medication in the wake of cancer treatment.
'I'd rather be strapped for money ... than be dead'
"I was crying just trying to make the decision. I do have a good heart. It's unfair for her."
She said she refunded the first and last month's rent Slinski had already paid.
"I feel so bad. I couldn't apologize enough to her."
For the time being, she's not going to rent the room to anyone, she said.
"I'd rather be strapped for money and be safe than be dead."
The story brings back memories of the way health care workers were treated during the SARS epidemic, said Linda Silas, president of the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions.
A hospital worker wears a mask during Toronto's SARS outbreak at North York General Hospital, on May 29, 2003. (Kevin Frayer/Canadian Press)
She said back in 2003, those who worked in health care in and around Toronto were sometimes "shunned" by friends — even family members — who feared they would spread the disease.
She said Slinski's case is the first concrete example she's heard of during the current outbreak.
Health care workers across the country are working long hours to save lives, said Silas, and it only adds to their stress and hurt when they encounter fear in the community.
"That is just plain sad," she said.
Around the world and in Canada, health care workers are falling ill with COVID-19. But Silas said the public should trust nurses and others to know what to do avoid spreading the virus.
"When we walk out of hospitals and long term care facilities, we make sure we are well-protected to protect others."
Try to negotiate, lawyer suggests
While there is an eviction freeze in Ontario right now, Slinski's case is more complex because renting a room in a house isn't covered by the Residential Tenancies Act, said Ottawa tenants' right lawyer Daniel Tucker-Simmons of Avant Law.
He said in cases like this, one issue would be how serious the medical risk is to the landlord. An assessment of that risk would need to be based on expert medical advice, not just the landlord's opinion, he added.
"Is there somewhere the landlord could stay, at least on an interim basis, to avoid ... making this tenant homeless? Are there options available?" he asked. "Is that landlord in a position to open another space?"
Slinski said she wouldn't stay where she's not wanted — but she is keen to find a place to live so she can concentrate on work.
To deal with pandemic, Slinski said, hospitals are keeping more patients in the community — and she needs to be at work helping those people.
"I need to be with my colleagues."
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David Amos
Content disabled
Methinks it fairly obvious that Ottawa's propaganda machine has its minions working overtime editing free speech N'esy Pas?
David Amos
Content disabled
Methinks
Trudeau the Younger has many minions who can simply pick up the phone
and book the lady a room at a hotel until they can find her proper
accommodations After all he compelled the provinces to house all the
illegal immigrants he welcomed into the Canada. In return the least he
can do is take good care of their health care staff N'esy Pas?
Louis Pelt
Content disabled
Doctors, nurses, and other front line workers take on all the risk for sustaining our society. They are being met by a terrified general public who is largely not willing to reciprocate for their sacrifice.
Gregory Lastman
Content disabled
Reply to @Louis Pelt: singing from their balconies is about as good as it gets.
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Louis Pelt: Welcome to the circus
Guy Stone
Content disabled
Reply to @Louis Pelt:
I think this is an extreme case... those front line workers can easily
afford a nice place anywhere in Ottawa unless they have some other
financial issues. I feel bad for her as she was clearly discriminated
against but she should find a place fairly quickly... I'd sue the owner
for moving costs, breach of contract, and all that stuff if I was her.
Michael O'Flaherty
"Ottawa nurse says pandemic panic has left her homeless"
Key words in the headline "pandemic panic".
David Amos
Reply to @Michael O'Flaherty: YUP
Red Forneri
Schools are empty...motel hotels are empty, it's time to step up!
David Amos
Reply to @Red Forneri: I Wholeheartedly Agree Sir
keith rodgers
Good thing she is not laid off like the 2 million other Canadians who by the way were to be woken with another Carbon Tax Hike.
Danny Proulx
Reply to @keith rodgers: The carbon tax is your biggest concern this morning, is it?
Bob Joe
Reply to @Danny Proulx: he's a conservative
Danny Proulx
Reply to @Bob Joe: 'nuff said.
David Amos
Reply to @keith rodgers: Oh So True
Mark Wood
Reply to @keith rodgers:
I could have spent 10 years trying to guess your comment without seeing it and still would not have come close. She is lucky to have a job and the carbon tax, that is your take from this?
I could have spent 10 years trying to guess your comment without seeing it and still would not have come close. She is lucky to have a job and the carbon tax, that is your take from this?
David Amos
Reply to @Mark Wood: Methinks you do not wish to try to understand his point N'esy Pas?
Kevan Cleverbridge
Someone from the Ottawa area step up and get this lady a place to live, it's the least that should be done for her. A Canadian embarrassment if you ask me.
Rob Grizwald
Reply to @Kevan
Cleverbridge: seems to me having a nurse in your house could be a lot
better than not if she takes all the precautions! If (when) you do get
sick, you've got someone at hand to help you make the proper health
decisions.
David Amos
Reply to @Kevan Cleverbridge: Doesn't Trudeau have a few vacant spots in Ottawa the could house nurses for awhile?
Guy Stone
Reply to @Kevan
Cleverbridge: if she was in Vancouver, I'd let her stay at my place.
nurses make some big coin (they should)... she should easily be able to
find an apartment or condo to rent... hope she is ok. Seems she was
renting just a room - not a full apartment. I went to craiglist and you
can get a nice apartment there with insuite laundry and all the latest
stuff... for $1200 per month. fairly cheap for what she would make at
her job (even if she turned down all OT)
Nouzha De
Reply to @David Amos:
Wake up, Trudeau cannot do everything. He has more important issues to
deal with.He humanly can't micro manage every details of every ministry
and provinces in the country
David Amos
Reply to @Nouzha De: Yea Right
David Amos
Content disabled
Reply to @Nouzha De:
Methinks he has many minions who can simply pick up the phone and book
the lady a room at a hotel until they can find her proper accommodations
After all Trudeau the Younger compelled the provinces to house all the
illegal immigrants into the Canada. In return the least he can do is
take good care of their health care staff N'esy Pas?
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