North Bay Nugget: Disabled tenants get eviction notices for repairs landlord can't yet afford

PHARA tells tenants to seek other accommodation while it applies for funding to repair water damage

Author of the article: Jennifer Hamilton-McCharles
Published Sep 04, 2025 - North Bay Nugget

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North Bay’s housing crisis is about to get a lot worse.

Residents at 122 Massey Drive are panicking after receiving an N13 eviction notice on Aug. 25 from the Physically Handicapped Adults’ Rehabilitation Association (PHARA).

The N13 notice allows PHARA to legally evict tenants to allow repairs to be done to the units.

There are 48 units and 80 tenants at 122 Massey Drive. Forty of those units are still occupied.

However, there’s not enough money to do the $8.4 million worth of necessary repairs caused by long-term water damage, according to Mike Van der Vlist, chief executive officer for PHARA.

The letter, which has been obtained by The Nugget, informs the tenants to apply to the Centralized Housing Wait list and work to seek alternative accommodations.

“Our goal was and is to repair 122 Massey Drive. PHARA has asked for financial assistance from our community, our community partners, and all levels of government,” the letter states.

“PHARA does not have the necessary funds currently to commence repairs. This leaves the future of 122 Massey Drive as undetermined.”

According to an Order to Remedy Unsafe Building Order issued by the City of North Bay on Nov. 1, 2024, “unsafe condition of building due to structural degradation and extensive mould growth, caused by extensive water infiltration, structural and building envelope repairs required.

PHARA only has $1.2 million in the bank for remediation efforts.

“We’ve been working on this since fall 2024. We advised tenants on Aug. 25 that we don’t have the necessary funds for repairs; therefore, the future of 122 Massey is undetermined,” Van der Vlist told The Nugget Wednesday.

“Our wish is to fix 122 Massey, but without money, we can’t move ahead. The future is undetermined. Our hope is that we can repair it, and it remains part of the social fabric of our community, because social housing is so badly needed.

Van der Vlist said PHARA is looking at what it can do to help save North Bay’s housing stock.

He said there is a national housing crisis, and the cost of renting a unit has gone up dramatically in the last few years.

“The units are rent-geared-to-income and market income rents. For example, a three-bedroom unit costs $800, and on the market, that same unit would rent for $2,200. When people have the opportunity to gain social housing with a not-for-profit housing provider, they don’t leave.”

Van der Vlist said it provides them with the opportunity for a positive quality of life.

He said PHARA does have some vacant units, however, not enough for the demand and need.