Jason Unrau
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Mar 26/04) - Lily Gruben, a 60-year-old senior on social assistance, has until the end of April to find another place to live.

This comes after the Inuvik Housing Authority decided not to renew Gruben's lease on her one-bedroom place at Nova apartments.

The Inuvik Housing Authority has decided not to renew Lily Gruben's lease. This means the 60-year-old on social assistance who suffers from chronic health problems will have to find a new place to live. - Jason Unrau/NNSL photo

Two weeks ago, Gruben received a letter from the authority -- which acts as an agent for the NWT Housing Corp.

Dated March 8, the letter informed Gruben that she would have to vacate her place by noon, March 31. After Gruben protested, she was permitted to make her case to the board last Wednesday.

Unfortunately for Gruben, the authority's decision was not reversed. She was, however, given until April 30 to find other accommodations.

Executive manager for the housing authority, Vicki Boudreau, would not comment as to the type or extent of the complaints made against Gruben.

"We don't throw people out for no reason, but I can't go into particulars because of confidentiality," she said.

Gruben, who has been living at Nova for two years, said there were four complaints altogether. She said they were for noise coming from her apartment and one concerned smoke caused from a cooking mishap.

"That wasn't even coming from my apartment," said Gruben about the smoke complaint.

Lots of visitors

As for the others, Gruben said that she has had a lot of visitors in and out of her place since her brother died at the beginning of February.

This is not the first time Gruben has had problems with the housing authority.

Approximately 18 months ago, Gruben's daughter Darlene was living at the same apartment and was a signatory on the lease.

Because of noise complaints, Darlene agreed to vacate the premises so her mother would not be evicted.

However, the past is not what concerns Gruben. It is where she is going to live next.

"I asked the housing authority about where I'm going to live now and they said it's my problem," she said.

The housing authority said one month should be enough time to find another place to live.

"We are not just throwing this woman into the snow," said Boudreau.