After weeks of procedures, the time has finally come, the evacuation of the tenants of the Albert Hotel is complete. The Supreme Court issued the order last Friday after a request for an injunction from the Régie du Bâtiment du Québec, which believes the building is dangerous.
• Also read: Sherbrooke: The tenants of the Hotel Albert are about to be evacuated
• Also read: Sherbrooke: Another building owned by the Hotel Albert owner was evacuated
Until the last minute, they hoped to stay there, but the twenty tenants of the Hôtel Albert had to vacate their apartments on Wednesday. They brought their personal belongings with them throughout the afternoon. With the help of city officials, their equipment is shipped to a warehouse while they find a new apartment.
Like many of his companions, Roch Bergeron will be staying at the Partage Saint-François: “Of course I’m looking for a place to stay. It’s difficult because apartments are expensive and not very available. I help my friends find a place to live and then I take care of myself. I can handle it, but there are some that are more complicated.
Social workers have been accompanying the evicted tenants for several days and will continue to do so, says Table d’itinérance Sherbrooke coordinator Gabriel Pallotta: “We will ensure that anyone who needs services has access to them. Nobody should sleep outside, space is available at least for a short time. After July 1st, on the other hand, it will be a pair of sleeves again.
The shop on the ground floor remains open. After all the tenants had moved out, the workers barricaded access to the floors with wooden panels. “Despite all communications to the owner since 2020 asking them to take corrective action to make the building safe, nothing has been done. Also that the situation has deteriorated,” commented the spokesman for the Régie du Bâtiment du Québec, Sylvain Lamothe.