Sanala Apartment Complex
Unsafe and Unhealthy Living Conditions
White v. British Columbia Housing Management Commission d.b.a. BC Housing et al., VIC-S-S-202187
What is this case about?
In 2020 Ms. White filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of all individuals who reside or have resided in the Sanala Apartment Complex, located at 564 Fifth Street, in Nanaimo BC after May 16, 2017. Ms. White alleged that the defendants allowed the living conditions at Sanala to become unsafe, unhealthy and unfit for habitation.
What is happening with the case?
Class counsel and the defendants have reached a tentative settlement agreement. The settlement agreement needs to be approved by the BC Supreme Court at a settlement approval hearing in order to be finalized.
The settlement approval hearing is scheduled for one hour during the week of June 10, 2024 at the Courthouse in Victoria, BC. Due to the nature of hearing schedules the specific date and time for the hearing are not yet known. Please check the hearing list for Victoria on the BC Supreme Court’s website each day during the week of June 10, 2024 to determine the date of the hearing, if you wish to attend. Your attendance at the hearing is not required and you are able to make a claim and collect the benefits outlined in the settlement agreement, if it is approved, whether you attend the hearing or not.
What are the terms of the proposed settlement agreement?
That BC Housing has:
- Secured safe, stable and reasonable housing for Class members who were residing at Sanala;
- Paid $78,980.68 to Class members for damaged personal items; and
- Paid $214, 434.69 on behalf of Class members for relocation costs, disposal fees, heat treatment and administration costs.
That BC Housing agrees to:
- Reimburse members of the Class for all utilities-related deposits they were required to pay to third-parties;
- Pay $50,000 for construction of a playground facility, including a plaque honouring the Sanala residents that will be installed at the redeveloped Sanala lands (the “Community Facilities Fund”);
- Pay $50,000 in legal fees, which Class Counsel will donate by matching the BC Housing Community Facilities Fund;
- Issue a public apology for the conditions that existed at Sanala;
- Establish a restorative engagement committee for the purposes of reviewing and recommending improvements to BC Housing policy.
Please refer to the documents below for more information on this class action.
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