WATCH ABOVE: A family living in government housing tells Global’s Rachel Lau about their struggle to stay warm in the winter.
MONTREAL – When Kamila Lewandowska moved to a government housing flat six years ago with her mother and five-year-old daughter, she didn’t realize she’d have to fight against the very organization that put a roof over her head.
“They treat us like zero class,” she said. “It’s like because you don’t have enough money, we don’t have to do anything for you. You get what we give you and that’s it.”
Since mid-December, Kamila and her family haven’t had proper heating in their small, three bedroom apartment.
“Being inside is as cold as, let’s say you go outside naked. It will be the same thing in the house,” she said. “We’re with winter jackets on, with hats and scarves.”
Now, she’s had enough.
“My mum has had pneumonia at least two times this year alone,” she said. “My daughter had strep throat twice and bronchitis once and I’ve had strep throat and pneumonia.”
But even when the heat does come on, Kamila says the problem isn’t exactly solved.
“It’s just one, it’s either very hot or it’s zero. Nothing in between,” she said. “Thirty or nothing, when there is heat. When there’s no heating, it doesn’t matter what you do. It’s still nothing.”
And then, there’s the windows.
“There’s a big crack, all the way to the top,” she pointed out. “They all have holes. They are all not properly sealed.”
Caroline Quach, a pediatric infectious diseases expert, points out prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures can be extremely risky.
“When the air temperature goes below 12 and you’re not actually dressed up for colder temperatures, your immune system actually decreases,” she said. “It’s a stress for you.”
Kamila says she’s tried calling the municipal housing organization, but when that was unsuccessful her mother, Eva Lewandowska, decided to take matters into her own hands.
“I pay for heating now,” said Eva. “We’re sitting here, we’re crying with the jacket.”
The municipal housing organization says it is aware of the situation.
“We’ve been investing a lot of efforts and money and time in the last years to make sure we are able to renovate and restore the apartments,” said spokesperson Nicole Halpert.
They said they will fix the problem next week.
“Someone was there today, Saturday, someone was there on Thursday, someone was there on Tuesday,” said Halpert.
“Heating is really something that we take to heart, especially in the winter.”
Kamila says she’s tired of being tossed around.
She’s already filled out an application to change buildings, but says she’s not holding her breath for a response.
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