Destruction and Vandalism of Vacant Units on Blood Reserve Causing Big Losses for Blood Tribe Housing Department – April 20, 2023

Destruction and Vandalism of Vacant Units on Blood Reserve Causing Big Losses for Blood Tribe Housing Department.

April 20, 2023

By Blaire Russell, Communications Officer

Blood Tribe Communications & Community Engagement

The Blood Tribe Housing Department is reporting big losses due to damage to vacant and boarded-up units on the Blood Reserve. The damages include broken entry ways and windows, extensive structural damage, and in some cases, house fires. Many of the vacant units have been boarded up due to evictions from drug use and trafficking.

In a community meeting held on March 21, 2023, Blood Tribe Housing Director, Rachel Tailfeathers, stated, “We have the largest housing portfolio of any First Nation [in Canada].” The portfolio contains approximately 1,300 units on the Blood Reserve with only five Housing Relations Officers (HROs) that oversee the units. These HROs could see up to 400 calls per day. There are five maintenance workers in the Housing Department that cover the same number of units.

Blood Tribe Housing Project Manager, Bernis Wells, states that HROs are dealing with complaints of drug activity and disputes with the renters and homeowners on the Reserve. Requests are then issued to the Blood Tribe Housing Maintenance Department to board up a house. One of the issues, Wells mentions, is that units will get too badly damaged for occupants, leaving the units vacant and vulnerable to further damage. Since the start of the Opioid Crisis, the damages have gotten worse. Wells mentions that the Housing Department cannot keep up and it is costly to keep them closed.

On April 17, 2023, Blood Tribe Chief and Council unanimously passed a Band Council Resolution (BCR) in response to the Opioid Crisis on the Blood Reserve. In the BCR, $1,500,000 of Tribe sourced revenue will be immediately provided to combat the crisis which includes funds set aside for the Blood Tribe Housing Department for repairs for damaged or destroyed units involved in drug use. Funds are also being allocated for Blood Tribe Foot Patrol that will help with community security and an increase in rewards for tips to Crime Stoppers Program related to drug trafficking activities.

Wells estimates costs to repair damaged homes for new families can range from $30,000 up to $100,000 or more and with current inflation of overall costs, it is only going up. Wells states that there are currently 20 units that are boarded up in Standoff Townsite with three units that have burnt down and seven units that need to be demolished due to extensive damage. He further indicates that it could cost up to $300,000 for a home to be demolished and replaced.

“Funding is the hardest part,” Wells says, “Keeping up with the demand for housing [on the reserve], we have no choice but to repair the damage.” Wells stresses that it is hard to keep up with the demand when so many vacant and boarded up homes are being broken into and damaged by vandals and suspected drug users. Renters and homeowners that damage their units are liable for the damage costs and is reflected in their payments to Blood Tribe Housing.

One of the measures the Housing Department has taken is implementing security to go out in the community and watch the boarded-up units. Once security sees anyone in the units, they call the Blood Tribe Police Service to escort them out. Blood Tribe Housing urges the community to report any activity in the boarded-up units to the Blood Tribe Police at (403)737-3800 or call the Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-222-8477. Blood Tribe Crime Stoppers can also be accessed online at www.p3tips.com.

Wells stresses that respect is needed from the people that are doing damage to vacant and boarded-up units on the reserve. They are not only doing damage to the homes but also the neighbours, community, and other housing projects. It gets quite costly to repair the damages when the funds can be used elsewhere for the Nation.