Deputy mayor responds to calls for improved security at London public housing sites

The organization that oversees public housing in London will be taking measures to improve security as three separate homicide investigations at different complexes in the city continue.

London's deputy mayor and board member at the London Middlesex Housing Corporation (LMHC) Shawn Lewis spoke about the working being done to improve the safety of residents in a London Morning interview Thursday, the same day a vigil was planned for the most recent homicide victim.

Darko Lukic, 48, was found beaten and unconscious outside of 122 Baseline Road on July 20 and died the next day of his injuries. No arrests have been made with police asking for witnesses to come forward.

In June, there were two alleged homicides. Zukifili 'Zeko' Abdul Hashim, 18, was stabbed outside the LMHC housing complex where he lived on Southdale Road East and Millbank Drive.

A few days later, Cheryl Sheldon, who lived at 345 Wharncliffe Rd. N., died in hospital after she was found in her apartment. Her boyfriend has been charged in the killing. 

Lewis, who said he wasn't speaking on behalf of the board, confirmed that a security review of the Baseline building where Lukic was found had been conducted, alongside the London Police Service (LPS), and will inform future changes. 

"[They could include] things like fob locks on garbage rooms and laundry rooms, so that they are secured from people wandering the halls and then dipping into the garbage room to stay in the building," said Lewis.

"We're going to secure some of those spaces that weren't secured and make sure that step is taken too, which has shown to increase the security of buildings a little bit."

Lewis added that the building, which opened in 2022, already has secure access and CCTV surveillance, in addition to the routine patrols. He said that patrol had visited the building more than a hundred times in July. 

'I'm not sure what more we can really do'

But residents and advocates have been calling for LMHC to do more, saying calls for help can go unanswered. They say vulnerable tenants, including families, seniors and people with disabilities, are witnessing violence and open drug use.

Many have told CBC News that they don't feel safe but have nowhere else to go,.

During an announcement in London on Tuesday, Ontario's Municipal Affairs and Housing Minister Paul Calandra said safety should be top priority for public housing administrators. 

"Those are obviously decisions that we leave to law enforcement in a community, and any assistance that the administrators of public housing require, is always there for them," said Calandra. "But obviously on some of the operational day-to-day, it is left to our law enforcement agencies to advise and to provide the protections of the community that are required."

Responding to calls from some tenants to hire round-the-clock security at entrances, LMHC spokesperson Matt Senechal said it wasn't practical and would make the buildings feel more like institutions than tenants' homes. 

Violence is not a unique problem to public housing, Lewis said. He noted that LMCH is a housing provider, and residents are free to come and go as they please, and to have guests.

"There's going to be security challenges at any residential building," said Lewis. "I'm not sure what more we can really do in terms of security at buildings like Baseline." 

He said it's important for tenants to report any disturbances to both the LPS and LMHC, he said, as it is possible for LMHC to evict problematic tenants for their behaviour.  

A vigil for Lukic is set to be held Thursday evening outside the Baseline apartment complex.  

LISTEN | Public housing board member responds to resident concerns

London Morning9:47Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis responds to calls for more security at public housing buildings

After the third killing at a London public housing site within a year, London Morning spoke to Deputy Mayor Shawn Lewis about the issues in public housing and what security measures are needed to keep residents safe.