Manitoba Housing staff at the Inwood Seniors’ Lodge locked one of two public washrooms after an alleged incident involving a toilet, drawing complaints from residents who say the closure has left some seniors struggling.
The locked washroom, near the lounge and exterior door, is important for residents with mobility issues who rely on quick access when returning from errands or socializing in the community.
One resident, who asked not to be named for fear of repercussions, said the building has two public washrooms — one near the lounge and another by the laundry area — but both were locked in September after staff reported fecal matter on a toilet seat and floor. Notices were posted on Manitoba Housing letterhead warning that the bathrooms would remain locked if they weren’t kept clean.
“The washroom is here for your convenience. Please help keep it clean by cleaning up after yourself after use. If there continues to be issues with cleanliness and sanitation, the bathroom will be kept locked at all times,” the notice read.
Residents say they depend on the lounge washroom because of mobility challenges.
“All the people in here, we often use the [public] washrooms because we just can’t make it back to our suites sometimes,” said one resident. “Especially people with walkers.”
After residents objected, staff reopened the washrooms but soon re-locked the one near the lounge. When Interlake-Gimli MLA Derek Johnson visited the lodge on Sept. 22, that washroom remained locked and the sign was posted.
“[The washroom by the lounge] has been locked since about last Wednesday or Thursday,” said the resident. “It was locked, too, when Derek visited. This is the second time that washroom has been locked.”
Residents said staff claimed the washroom was messy, but they believe the issue stemmed from a plumbing problem.
“That could have been the cause of the feces,” the resident said. “But not a single resident here has ever seen this mess [staff] are talking about. Those bathrooms get used often enough that one of us would have seen it.”
Staff later told residents the toilets weren’t for public use but only for residents whose suite toilets malfunction. One resident was given a key, though others were unsure if that person is expected to unlock the door on request.
The Inwood Seniors’ Lodge is a 22-suite rent-geared-to-income facility owned by Manitoba Housing, a Crown corporation under the Department of Housing, Addictions and Homelessness.
Residents also raised concerns about caretaking and maintenance. They said the property manager, based in Eriksdale, visits infrequently and rarely interacts with tenants.
“He’ll come maybe once a week or once every couple of weeks,” said the resident. “He doesn’t let anybody know he’s here. Of course, he’s not had complaints from us because no one ever knows he was here.”
Caretakers handle cleaning duties, but residents say they sometimes see inconsistent work, such as vacuuming only one side of the building at a time.
Another major concern is the high number of vacant suites — about 10 — despite people being told there’s a year-long waiting list.
The resident fears Manitoba Housing could close the facility, similar to what happened in Komarno, where a small residence was shut down and later sold.
“One man had to move south. He was so upset because he really wanted to be in Inwood. People talk to each other and they’ll talk about the long waiting list,” said the resident. “It looks like they’re going to pull a Komarno. Komarno had a small [Manitoba Housing] residence, I think it was four or six suites in it. And all of sudden there was no one moving into Komarno. Then it got closed and it went up for sale. We’re wondering if someone’s saying there’s a waiting list [here] to try to sell it.”
Vacancies may also be linked to delays in cleaning or repairing vacated suites.
“Three residents moved out — one about a year ago and two just recently,” said the resident. “Nobody has gone in to clean those suites or get them ready to rent again.”
The mounting concerns over washrooms, maintenance and vacancies prompted residents to contact their MLA.
Johnson called the situation “bordering on elder abuse.”
“A short-term closure for maintenance is one thing,” he said. “But to lock a washroom as retribution for an accident by someone who could be incontinent is disgusting. These are seniors who built our province. To take away their dignity by locking a washroom facility [they need] is unacceptable.”
Johnson said Manitoba Housing, as the landlord, is responsible for ensuring plumbing systems work properly.
“It’s the landlord that is responsible — and the landlord here is the Province of Manitoba,” he said.
He added that restricting access to essential facilities affects seniors’ ability to live independently.
“Part of that independence is living in the community they grew up in,” he said. “When you start closing washrooms, that has a huge effect on seniors’ independence.”
A Manitoba Housing spokesperson said senior staff will visit the Inwood Seniors’ Lodge this month to review maintenance procedures, public washroom use and other building concerns.
“Apartment buildings are not required to have a publicly accessible washroom,” the spokesperson said. “As this is a residential facility, residents would have access to a washroom in their own suites. However, there are two washrooms in public areas of the building, which will be reviewed by senior staff this month.”
When asked about the vacancy rate and the alleged waiting list, the spokesperson said the building will not be sold and that there is no current waitlist for suites.
“The department’s mandate is to protect social and affordable housing across the province, including at Inwood Manor [sic], which will not be sold,” they said.
They added that after the non-profit Inwood Manor Inc. ended its management agreement in 2022, Manitoba Housing’s Property Services branch assumed control. The department continues to process applications through its central intake system.
“All inquiries about tenancy are referred to Manitoba Housing’s application department,” the spokesperson said. “After completing an application, applicants are added to the waitlist and contacted when a unit is available. While all units are ready to be used, there is currently no waitlist for Inwood.”
Tenants can reach the property manager by phone or during weekly site visits. “All tenants have his business card with contact information, which is also posted in the building,” the spokesperson said.
For people interested in renting a suite at the Inwood Senior’s Lodge, Manitoba Housing recommends they call the corporation’s general inquiries line at 1-800-661-4663 and speak with a staff member who can guide them though the application process.
