ACHO DENE KOE/FORT LIARD - When Donna Klondike left her house on Jan. 14 to walk her children to school after lunch she had no idea that would be the last time she'd have free access to her home.

Klondike, along with her common-law partner Kirk Lomen and their two children, had been living in one of the Kotaneelee Housing rental units in Fort Liard for more than four years. Klondike's mother, brother and one sister were also sharing the house.

Donna Klondike said her family didn't receive proper notification before being evicted and locked out of their Kotaneelee Housing rental unit in Fort Liard. - NNSL photo illustration

On Monday afternoon Klondike's sister was visiting with a relative in the home when two officials, including a rental officer, arrived and told her the family was being evicted and that they had to leave. By the time Klondike's sister found her at a family member's house the doors to their home were sealed.

"I cried," said Klondike.

Although the family was behind on the rent the eviction came as a surprise, according to Klondike. Sometime in the fall the couple was told they were behind with their rent but there was no further contact, she said.

"They never said anything about being evicted," said Klondike.

The family didn't have a phone so no calls were received and Klondike said no letters warning of an eviction came through the mail.

In total the family owed $1,010 in back payments.

"They could have at least come to see me and given me 24 hours notice to pay it off," she said.

The family has been late with rent payments before but has always paid it off, she said. This time Klondike said they'd already made some payments towards the amount.

"We were trying our best," she said.

The eviction has been hard on the family.

"I didn't even have time to pick up a set of clothes," she said.

Klondike had to make an appointment with a local housing official to have the doors to the house opened so she could go inside.

Entering the house on Jan. 17 Klondike found that the ingredients for a supper, including meat that she'd left on the counter, had gone bad.

"It was gross," she said.

Klondike's main objective was to get spare clothes for her children to wear.

"Only now do I have clothes for my kids for school," she said.

With some help Klondike packed up all her children's clothes, food and most of the other items in the house.

Even with her wardrobe restored, Klondike's seven-year-old daughter doesn't want to go to school because other students are teasing her over the fact her family was evicted, she said.

Now that she has the family's possessions, Klondike said she's not sure where she'll put them.

For now Klondike and her two children are staying with one of her sisters in Fort Liard. With six people already living in the house the building is crowded. Klondike's partner Kirk Lomen is staying with his mother.

"I don't know where to go," she said.

"I feel so helpless."

The couple is trying to find another house to rent but there are few options in Fort Liard, she said. As a last option Lomen plans to fix up a tent frame that's behind his mother's house and install a wood stove.

Klondike said she's received no clear answers from the housing officials about possible options.

"It's just here and there, all in circles," she said.

Although the couple has gathered together enough money to pay the back rent, Klondike said she was informed they still wouldn't be allowed back in the house.

The details of the story suggest the family was evicted without due process, said MLA Kevin Menicoche, who has looked into the case.

After being contacted about the case Menicoche talked to both the ministers of housing and justice.

According to information from the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation (NWTHC) and the Department of Justice, everything possible was done to contact the family, said Menicoche.

The rental officer, with the Department of Justice, sent registered mail in July and October. The case was then heard by the Supreme Court on Dec. 10 with an eviction date set for Jan. 4. A court order for eviction was sent by registered mail following the case.

Records also show that on Dec. 27 a Kotaneelee Housing officer and the Fort Liard housing official hand delivered documents to Donna Klondike.

Klondike said she didn't receive any of these notices. Although none of the adults living in the home can remember seeing an eviction letter, Klondike said when she was allowed back into the house on Jan. 17 she found an opened letter about the eviction on the kitchen floor.

"I don't know where that came from," said Klondike.

In light of the family's lack of consultation, Menicoche said the matter was improperly handled.

"I think the government made a horrible mistake," he said.

All this trouble is over $1,010 that the family tried to pay off, said Menicoche. The NWTHC records also show two payments were received in both October and November from the couple. The government shouldn't have chosen to use this route of action over so little money, he said.

"The government has to be more sensitive to that especially in the middle of the winter," said Menicoche.

Housing is at a premium in Fort Liard so the government should be providing it instead of taking it away, he said.

In addition to their rent, all costs associated with having the rental officer travel to Fort Liard to evict them including flights, accommodations and meals will be added to the family's balance, Menicoche said.

"That's not right either," said Menicoche.

As of Jan. 18, Menicoche said he'll be working with the family to launch an appeal as soon as the proper authority is identified.

The Kotaneelee Housing units were taken over by the NWT Housing Corporation (NWTHC) a few years ago, said Jeff Anderson, the chief financial officer with the corporation.

The NWTHC then entered into a partnership agreement with the hamlet of Fort Liard to manage the buildings. All decisions on the houses and their tenants are made by the hamlet with the support of the corporation, said Anderson.

In dealing with tenants the NWTHC and community organizations have to follow the Residential Tenancies Act just like any other landlord, he said.

In the case of late rent, when payments are not resolved a request can be put in front of the Department of Justice's rental officer, who mediates between landlords and tenants. The officer can make orders laying out payment obligations.

If the tenant doesn't follow the orders the rental officer can cancel the tenancy agreement. At that point the client can still appeal the decision, Anderson said. The community organization then goes to the Supreme Court to request an eviction and the judge makes a decision.

"It's pretty much a standard process, a legislative process," said Anderson

Following an eviction the next step is left up to the community organization. If a payment plan is organized and followed the person can be put back on a waiting list for a unit, he said.

During the whole legal process there are many chances for the tenants to appeal, said Anderson.