Residents rally against ‘dismissive’ management at Saskatoon Housing Authority

Concerned citizens gathered outside the Saskatoon Housing Authority office on Thursday to draw attention to living conditions and management style.

“It’s just neglect. People cannot be treated like that,” said Dominika Kosowska, who lives in a building managed by the SHA.

Kosowska, who shared her story with Global News in November, has been struggling with a rodent infestation.

“SHA still hasn’t come to look at the apartment,” Kosowska said.

2:02 A resident of Saskatoon Affordable Housing says there’s been an infestation of mice for years

Kosowska traveled to Regina from Saskatoon in late 2022 and spoke with the Secretary of Social Affairs about the situation with her apartment. She said no action had been taken to find a solution.

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“I never got any replies, I never got any resolutions from them, nothing. It’s all just words, copy and paste, sending the same email over and over again. No action will be taken,” said Kosowska.

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“This is not just about mismanagement and the dismissive, unprofessional attitude of SHA managers and management towards tenants and their substandard living conditions, but also the breadth and scope of this issue, which is having an impact judging by the reactions posted on various social media Websites by local media companies is certainly in the public interest,” said Paul Miazga of Saskatoon.

Read more: Sask. Government accused of mismanaging housing, called for mouse infestations and explosions

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The protesters said the housing authority is exposing immigrants, refugees and new Canadians to substandard living conditions.

However, living conditions appear to vary between buildings, with some long-term residents saying they have had no management or living conditions issues.

“I’ve never had any complaints,” said Donald Church, who has lived in a Saskatoon Housing Authority building for four years.

“Any time I had a problem I spoke to them and they were very quick, very good and very eager to do it.”

In addition to housing conditions, the protesters also demanded the occupation of vacant units that the SHA currently has.

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“We have homeless people sleeping on the streets and dying of the cold when Sask. In housing construction, there are hundreds of empty apartments and houses, and they don’t bring people into those houses,” Kosowska said.

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She said after her story was heard before lawmakers and circulated on social media, she received thousands of comments from other residents who said they had had the same experiences.

“People need to be seen and heard,” said Kosowska. “I can be that voice for people who can’t.”

Kosowska said the aim of the protest is to be heard by the SHA and that they recognize the issue at hand.

Global News has contacted the Saskatchewan Housing Authority and is awaiting a response.