MLA calls out province over apartment vacancies

PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE — A provincial housing complex in Portage la Prairie is still sitting nearly empty despite high demand for affordable housing, prompting a local official to call out the government for severe maintenance neglect.

Jeff Bereza, MLA for Portage la Prairie and the PC critic for addictions and homelessness, says a recent tour of Stephens Apartments revealed shocking living conditions and an immense vacancy rate at the facility, which is owned and operated by Manitoba Housing.

According to Bereza, residents estimate that the building has capacity for 65 to 70 occupants, yet only 10 to 15 people currently live there.

“The part that’s probably the most unfortunate is that there are vacancies there, because there’s people on lower incomes or fixed incomes that are looking for places to live,” Bereza said. “And that place is sitting probably three quarters empty.”

The MLA raised serious safety concerns following his visit, highlighting an exterior door leading to a green space that was entirely restricted by a padlock.

“That’s an entrance or an exit that is locked with a padlock,” Bereza warned. “If there was an emergency that you had to get out that door for any reason, it would be catastrophic.”

In addition to blocked emergency exits, the locked door deprives the remaining tenants, many of whom are seniors, of using the outdoor space.

Bereza also documented various bugs and bug traps inside the property, stating that the building has seen virtually no up-keep. There reportedly has not been a caretaker at the residence for months. He said that while maintenance is non-existent, security has not been flagged as an issue by residents, largely because there are too few tenants left to cause disruptions.

Stephens Apartments was one of the first sites to alert Bereza to local housing problems following his election to office nearly three years ago. Despite raising the matter directly on the floor before the legislative session concluded, Bereza says the current New Democratic Party (NDP) government has continually deflected the problem.

“We’ve heard now from this government for the last three years that they were going to be doing some work in Stephens Apartments,” Bereza said. “And unfortunately, it is just not happening.”

While local agencies like the Portage Friendship Centre assist by managing rental applications for the complex, the provincial government remains entirely responsible for the structure’s physical care.

Bereza said that the lack of provincial oversight extends well beyond Portage la Prairie, pointing to widespread housing degradation, a drug epidemic, and currently an ongoing air conditioning crisis at personal care homes in Winnipeg.

“The government keeps talking that they’re adding more spaces for people to live,” Bereza said. “Well, it certainly isn’t in Portage la Prairie.”

Manitoba Housing and the provincial Minister of Housing, Addictions and Homelessness Bernadette Smith couldn’t be reached for comment before print deadline.

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