MUHC provides housing units to displaced tenants, others

Rumours that it could be up to seven weeks before residents can return to Slave Lake have Sheena Phillips believing that more people will take the Métis Urban and Capital Housing Corporation up on its offer to house people in existing MUHC units around the province.

“Even those who can get back in (to Slave Lake), what’s left? There’s no more rental accommodations out there. They’ll have to look at other options,” said Phillips, executive aid with MUHC, which is the housing division of the Métis Nation of Alberta.

Five of MUHC’s units in Slave Lake have either burned or been damaged. Phillips said she doesn’t know what the status of the MUHC office is in the town.

“I believe we still do have our office. But you hear so much. There are so many different stories. I don’t know,” said Phillips.

MUHC’s priority was to house the families who were living in the corporation’s 18 units in Slave Lake.
Between some families seeking accommodations with family and friends in other parts of the province and MUHC offering units in Edmonton, all 18 displaced families have been housed.

Others approached MUHC and accommodations in both Edmonton and Peace River were found. In total, MUHC has provided housing for 35 Aboriginal families.
Units were freed-up in Calgary, said Phillips, but families didn’t want to move that far south or live in a large city. MUHC has now made units in Bonnyville, St. Paul, and Lloydminster available. They also operate units in Fort McMurray, Cold Lake, Rocky Mountain House, Grande Prairie and Medicine Hat.

All units are unfurnished. A donation of two u-hauls-full of furniture from the Red Road Healing Society has helped fill that gap. The society also provided 150 crocheted blankets.

MUHC has set up a food bank and collection station in its Edmonton office. People have been generous in their donations, said Phillips.

Evacuees have been provided with food baskets and basic supplies. No financial aid has been forthcoming from the MNA.

Michelle MacIsaac, MUHC’s rural branch supervisor in Slave Lake, spent most of the first week helping people at the Athabasca reception centre, before coming to Edmonton.

“She’s bent over backwards to help not only the tenants but whoever needed help,” said Phillips.

People Phillips has spoken to are still in a state of disbelief.

“Everyone is still pretty much in shock,” she said. “It might help them if they decide to take the tour, see what Slave Lake looks like.”

Bus tours of the devastated town began on May 23. Residents were not permitted to leave the bus because of safety issues. There are still 200 firefighters working in the town on hotspots.

Gift Lake Métis Settlement was also evacuated. Phillips believes most of those people were accommodated in hotels in Valleyview.