Robert Dal Passo has a court order saying his landlord – Community Builders – can no longer lock him out.
But he still spent much the day fighting in vain to get back inside his home, a temporary housing unit at a former Quality Inn on Vancouver’s Howe Street.
“As of February 1, I was illegally locked out of my place, I was not allowed to get anything out of my place,” he said.
Dal Passo says he’s been living there for the last 14 months, but was evicted nearly two weeks ago for not following the rules. He took his case to the Rental Tenancy Branch, which ruled in his favour.
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“I got the paperwork done. I gave them my rent, which is a money order, and they said no several times. I gave it to them, and they gave it back to me,” he claims.
After obtaining two court orders, including one just days ago, Dal Passo returned collect to his belongings but no one from Community Builders would come to the front desk.
“We asked for the VPD to be present, so far they’re not there,” said Dan Zimmerman, a low-income housing advocate helping Del Passo.
“I will wait for them to come, so we can explain to them this is a Supreme Court order.”
However, the City of Vancouver argues Community Builders have done nothing wrong.
“Staff have been trying to work with the individual in order to find him an alternative room in another building to ensure that he is in a safe accommodation, however, the tenant has not been cooperative.”
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