Grouard family still waiting: House still needs repairs

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A Metis family is still waiting "patiently" for housing officials to begin repairs on a home they were evicted from last January.

"I'm willing to wait for as long as it takes. I've been patient for nine years," says Louise Gardiner, who has been waiting to meet with housing officials since the home was inspected Feb. 16.

So far, Gardiner says she has received a draft copy of the inspection report which outlines recommendations to fix problems in the house which caused the basement to continually flood and the sewage system to back up.

A letter accompanying the report says "this report should not be interpreted as a decision to proceed with any repairsthe CMHC must approve the scope of the repairs according to the Rural and Native Housing program occupancy guidelines."

The letter further states the Gardiners' final comments are required before further action is taken.

In the meantime, Gardiner is waiting for a meeting with housing officials, which she hopes will occur within the next two weeks.

She says she is still refusing to pay back mortgages to Alberta Mortgage and Housing Corporation. "They'll never see a cent of that until things start going my way."

The Gardiners were evicted after withholding close to $6,800 in mortgage payments, claiming the corporation had failed to listen to their requests to make repairs to the home they purchased nine years ago.