The Cost Of Doing Repairs

Recently I sat in an open forum, where the discussion was over the condition of public housing in the city. Tenants were very concerned about significant mould build up, heat loss, leaky roofs and rotting windows, and these issues were the more minor of the lot.

It was at the point where one lady had told her story of rodents and cockroaches that got my real attention, in fact, she'd brought along a plastic bag with a few dead mice and a decapitated rat she'd killed herself. No trophy, but she got to tell her story. Needless to say, the man of the hour could not make it, nor did anyone from housing. A feeling of sadness and question entered my mind, could this be real, could conditions be this bad, especially in this province of "have"?

Yes indeed, no guessing, no question just in your face reality. I had opportunity to visit a tenant thereafter in the courts near MUN. it was like walking into a re-run of the Walton's. Character, appeal, quality, adequacy, efficiency, or healthy was zero. The first thing I noticed was the kitchen cabinet doors, made of plain D-grade plywood, painted so often with oil paint, that the half inch plywood door was now an inch thick.

I wondered why a government like ours would allow their public property to become so devastated, where instead of beautifying the housing units to enrich self pride and esteem for their tenants, they allow for their tenants own economic disability, to be used against them.

Late last year, an announcement was made by Minister Skinner that a retrofit of 10 housing units in the cities west end would take place over summer and fall of 2008. The amount of $339,000 was provided to repair roofs, windows and doors, as well some exterior board replacement on otherwise brick exteriors.

Given the type, size and quantity of the said windows there were 42, if all were replaced and they did not appear to have been, each window would have cost $189.00 providing government pays what you and I do. roofs, five in all, and a local roofer estimated about $6000.00 for all material, siding material for all five building estimated $9,000.00 for type and amount used, lumber for eves and Misc. $800.00, miscellaneous, $2500.00. Estimated $26,000. - $30,000, for materials, $310.000 for labour.

I may have deviated a tad, because what I really wanted to talk about was the $310 thousand bucks spent to repair the exteriors of these buildings. I drove by a few times, a community watchdog of sorts, and though not to be laughed at, I did. At the one unit it seemed that the congregation of workers had gathered, eleven in all. One guy, on the porch roof caulking a window, two more sitting on the roof, feet hanging off the eve. One dude was eating his Twinkies, the other with his hand in his pocket playing with his. On the ground, two lads sitting on the tailgate of the truck dragging down a few cameos, another two tarring shingles, while the old ones still attached to roof, two more boys holding a ladder that nobody was standing on. The funniest however were the two white helmets standing around making sure the others were getting paid to eat, drink, smoke and be merry.

This project started in August, it is still ongoing as at Saturday. What a heedless thing to ask Newfoundlander and Labradoreans accept. This is robbery in the biggest way. These five buildings, with eleven crew could have done first all eves two days max, roofs five days max, windows, four days max, siding upper level only 10 days max. Twenty one working days, one month, while so far it's near 90 days. Is it me that feels this is wrong, or is this an acceptable practice now that 90% of all public works initiatives are labour cost?

Is government sending out a message to it's most economically challenged that hey, we'll give away the real money to the guys outside not fixing your house, but as far as you go on the inside, boil some more rice, if you can find some without rat shit or roaches that is, and continue on with your miserable lives.

Shame, a real shame!

Brudder