'I feel kind of lost:' Hamilton men displaced by YMCA fire wonder what's next

Standing on the corner of Jackson Street West and James Street South with his backpack on, Cesar Lemus stared at YMCA's downtown branch in Hamilton.

The charity's men's residence program has been Lemus's home for eight years, but the 40-year-old hasn't been able to stay in his unit since a Monday afternoon fire ripped through the building's third floor.

"The fact that we have to stay out here … I feel kind of lost," Lemus told CBC Hamilton, referring to the days now spent outdoors. 

He is among the 173 tenants who were evacuated out of the building. Around half have since been sleeping on cots in one of the Y's gyms. 

Almost a dozen people were also taken to hospital, according to the local fire department.

The residence provides men with short-term affordable housing, the YMCA's website says. It supports "men at risk," who face health and social challenges. 

Most residents have disabilities, mental illness or addiction issues, have no access to a family doctor and receive financial support like Ontario Works, according to a YMCA presentation to city councillors last year. Rent is $455 per month.

"It's the only place we can afford," Lemus said Thursday. "I don't really have family members out here."

Some 200 people are also on the waitlist for the program, according to YMCA spokesperson Shawn McKillop.

The YMCA said in a media release on Wednesday it had plans to immediately start restoration efforts but because the damage is worse than initially expected, "there is an urgent need for a more comprehensive transition plan that will require additional time."

No timeline for transition plan, YMCA says

McKillop told CBC Hamilton there's no timeline yet for a transition plan.

"Our priority is to move the men into temporary or longer-term accommodation as quickly as possible," he wrote.

The branch will stay closed until some time next week, including the fitness and aquatic centre, a newcomer youth centre and EarlyON child care drop-in centre.

McKillop said some 83,356 community members used those amenities last year.

Manny Figueiredo, president and chief executive officer of the local YMCA, said residents are experiencing "a great deal of anxiety" after being displaced.

"We understand the profound impact this situation has had on their lives, and we are committed to providing all the support we can," he said in the media release.

In search of a safe place to rest

Lemus says he was in his unit on the second floor when he heard fire alarms blaring and people yelling at others to exit the building.

"I thought it was a drill," he said. 

When he got to the street, he could see smoke coming from the building and firefighters breaking through windows.

Shawn Arnold, 54, said he was on his way back to the building during the fire.

He said it's the second time he's been displaced by a fire in the past few years.

"I've had a lot of bad luck," he said.

Arnold and Lemus were walking together on Thursday, looking for a safe place to rest.

"The first night I stayed out here, someone went into my bag, took my money, my radio," Arnold said.

"And yesterday, my new mountain bike got stolen. It was brand new … what else is going to happen?"

'It's tiresome when you don't matter'

Andrew Slowey, 59, was in the middle of a workout at the facility's gym when he had to flee. Slowey has been living at the residence there for four years. 

He's been sleeping on one of the cots in the gyms. During the day when he's not working, "there's just nowhere to go."

Slowey said he wonders if the fire could've been prevented, saying he didn't think the smoke detector in his unit was working properly. 

McKillop, however, said the building "adheres to all fire prevention regulations."

Slowey also said he is hoping he'll be able to get back into his unit to get some of his belongings.

"There's some stuff of monetary value … but what I care about are all the little things I've collected over my lifetime that have meaning to me, stupid little things," he said.

Among them are items from his daughter and his first pass to Canada's Wonderland. 

Slowey worries they may not get the chance.

"I'm a mild case … imagine you haven't talked to your kids and now that little thing that held you to them is gone," he said, with tears in his eyes.

McKillop said restoration efforts have temporarily halted residents' access to their rooms, but said those efforts are being coordinated with their interests in mind.

He also said the building is not being torn down and added people can visit the YMCA to donate money and help recovery efforts.

He noted organizations like the city's Emergency Response Team, Red Cross, Salvation Army, Good Shepherd, United Way and others have helped, too. The Hamilton Community Foundation said it was responding to the fire with a $25,000 from its Immediate Response Fund. 

The YMCA's website says it no longer needs donations of household items or clothing, but welcomes monetary donations. 

Community support is key, Slowey said, and it's important all residents of Hamilton are concerned about the situation and don't let unhoused people get pushed around from place to place.

"People don't like to come downtown because it's pretty rough. The more this happens, the rougher it's going to get. The more people are turned onto the streets, the more people have to struggle to find anything reasonable to live, the worse this downtown is going to get," he said.

"It's tiresome when you don't matter."