Residents at Valleyview Towers 2 allege rising tension and deteriorating living conditions as a wave of new and younger residents move in. (Tyler Marr/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By battlefordsNOW Staff

Valleyview tenant appreciates ‘heartwarming support,’ continues call for action

Oct 15, 2019 | 2:51 PM

While Natalie Berrecloth appreciates the overwhelming support from those close to her, to hear and read comments from people in the community about the red flags she has raised about living conditions at Valleyview Towers 2 is “particularly heartwarming.”

For months, Berrecloth was one voice in a choir of residents rattling chains about the alleged decline in living conditions at the housing unit on the peripheral of North Battleford’s downtown. In recent weeks, she has become the lone voice for many who say they do not know where to turn after perceived inaction from management.

“While the powers-to-be are busy with the same old lip service … the regular folks aren’t being fooled,” she wrote in a letter to battlefordsNOW.

Earlier in October, Berrecloth said the living conditions in the building had turned even more desperate, despite outreach to ministers, management and the media months prior.

“Somebody is going to either get hurt or they won’t live to tell the story,” Berrecloth previously told battlefordsNOW. “And then what? We have been fighting and fighting and fighting and nobody seems to hear.”

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In June, residents came forward and alleged that a handful of new tenants were causing a commotion and not being adequately reprimanded for doing so.

The 89-suite complex opened in June 1982. It’s listed on the Battlefords Housing Authority (BHA) website as a senior’s housing unit with common areas on the main floor and mini-lounges on floors three through 10.

In the latest letter, Berrecloth said many are calling for a change in management.

“Tenants don’t bother to talk to the office anymore because no one there seems to care,” she wrote, adding morale among staff has dwindled and she has heard some are actively seeking other employment.

She said she gave management several direct phone calls and left messages to ensure they are aware when police are called and other major incidents occur. She said she gave them ample time to address the issues before she turned to the media.

Berrecloth said she has been approached and chastised by staff for not telling them about the incidents and that they learned of them through the media.

“That is not true,” she wrote. “Their janitor cleaned up the elevator and fifth floor the Friday morning after the first night of drunkenness. Two staff members were also outside my door surveying the damages first thing in the morning after the late-night stabbing.”

A spokesperson from the Ministry of Social Services, which oversees the Saskatchewan Housing Authority and in turn the Battlefords Housing Authority, has said they are aware of the situation and working to investigate tenants’ concerns and develop a plan to address them.

“A commissioner has been hired to be at the building overnight on the weekends. We have also sent a tenant relations specialist to work with the tenants to ensure tenants are abiding by their lease agreements, improving building safety and resolving conflict,” they previously wrote in a statement to battlefordsNOW.

They said each complaint and situation is different and must be investigated as such. They said corrective action taken on delinquent tenants can vary.

“Lease violations are followed up by the Housing Authority, therefore all tenants’ concerns should continue to be reported to the Housing Authority for follow up,” the ministry added. “To keep the building secure, the tenants should not allow anyone they don’t know into the building.”

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cjnbnews@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow