Whitehorse Daily Star

Image title

Photo by Photo Submitted

MOULD DISCOVERED – This photo shows tank overflow and piping leaks as well as high mould behind the tank and potentially toxic mould on the floor, left. SEWAGE GLACIER – This photograph, taken this past winter, shows damage in a Ross River Dena Council home that was identified in an inspection by Groundtrax Environmental Inc., centre. BATHROOM DISREPAIR – Mould lines the cracks between the bathtub and the wall in this photo taken this past winter, right. Photos courtesy ROSS RIVER DENA COUNCIL

‘We are facing a housing crisis in Ross River’

Band housing in Ross River is in a “state of overwhelmed crisis,”

By Sidney Cohen on May 25, 2017

Band housing in Ross River is in a “state of overwhelmed crisis,” and 27 of the homes should be razed, says an environmental site assessor who inspected homes in the community in 2014 and 2016.

Adam Greetham of Brighton, Ont.-based Groundtrax Environmental Services Inc. was contracted by the Ross River Dena Council.

He did a thorough inspection inside and outside each of the community’s 146 band homes in 2016. He found mould in more than half, and leaking roofs and rot in more than a third of the homes.

Mould was so bad in some of the homes that Greetham felt unsafe simply doing the inspection.

Sewage and petroleum leaks also plagued dozens of homes.

“We are facing a housing crisis here in Ross River,” Coun. Derrick Redies told the Star this morning.

The community has reached out for help a number of times.

On the request of Ross River Dena Council, the territorial government sent Yukon Housing Corp. inspectors to the community over six days last January, to verify concerns of residents.

The housing corporation inspected 26 homes – about 18 per cent of the community’s housing stock – and didn’t do as thorough an inspection as Groundtrax, said Redies.

For example, the government inspectors didn’t go into crawl spaces and “right into the general mess of the area.”

The Yukon Housing Corp. inspected homes that Ross River identified as in most need of repair, president Pam Hine said in an interview today.

Inspectors found small amounts of mould “that could have been cleaned up using bleach and Javex" in four homes, she said.

Hine said Yukon Housing didn’t do an “invasive inspection,” and that inspections were based on what could be seen by going inside and looking around.

The Yukon Housing Corp. is part of monthly meetings with Ross River Dena Council, Indigenous and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) and the Yukon government, said Hine.

Pauline Frost, the minister responsible for housing corporation, said the inspectors found no serious mould in Ross River homes.

“We sent in our team of staff to go in and do the inspections and work with the Ross River Dena Council to identify and to put the minds of the community at ease, to say that if there are pressures and concerns around mould in the houses, then let’s deal with it,” Frost told reporters May 10.

“The inspections revealed that there were no issues around mould.”

Frost’s conclusion appears to contradict what Ross River residents are saying.

Redies said mould was so severe in one home, that the people who lived there had to be moved out.

He said Groundtrax tests of the mould found that some of it was “really toxic.”

Frost was not available for comment before this afternoon’s publication deadline.

This spring, the Ross River Dena Council conducted a survey of its residents, asking them to report the specific problems in their homes.

According to the survey, 80 Ross River homes (55 per cent) have mould.

Greetham said the survey results on mould match the results of his inspections.

In addition to mould, the survey found that 29 homes had petroleum leaks, 31 had sewage leaks, 58 had roof leaks and 52 had rot.

Greetham confirmed the accuracy of these figures to the Star.

The survey also found 100 homes (68.5 per cent) with unlevel foundations, and that nearly half the homes had plumbing failure and poor ventilation.

Another two thirds had poor insulation. Greetham could not confirm these figures.

“Our housing stock has been deteriorating for quite some time now; it’s been a really struggling battle,” said Redies.

Chief Jack Caesar of the Ross River Dena Council alerted Yukon politicians to the housing crisis in his community in an October 2016 letter sent to territorial party leaders.

“Our RRDC (Ross River Dena Council) community housing is in an emergency crisis situation,” he wrote, noting the state of disrepair is “significantly affecting the health of the families” who live in these homes.

He said the community needed emergency temporary housing for 48 to 60 families before winter.

A number of factors have created the desperate state of homes in Ross River.

Heaving permafrost means the community has to re-level all of its homes on an almost yearly basis, said Readies.

“So that eats up a lot of our budget.”

Adding to the problem is that the community doesn’t have a rental regime, said Redies. Nor does it have a preventative maintenance program.

There is also a lack of repair staff on hand to fix problems when they arise.

Redies said the community could “certainly use help” building capacity, and Hine said the Yukon Housing Corp. is working with the community to that end.

Another issue is the timing of funding coming down from Ottawa, said Redies.

Ross River Dena Council is an Indian Act band, and its housing falls under the purview of INAC.

“Timing always seems to be an issue,” said Redies. “By the time everything is said and done, boots are on the ground, summer is pretty well almost over, and a number of these houses were built in the winter months.”

Redies is optimistic about Ross River’s collaboration with the Yukon government and INAC.

Two duplexes are being built right now, which will house four families, and 15 other homes are being renovated.

Yukon housing has also offered up some units it has in Ross River as transitional homes.

“We have a really bad housing crisis and those individuals don’t have any place to move into so we’ve been trying our best efforts to mitigate those risks,” said Redies.

Yukon Housing has also offered to assist with a rental policy in the community, he said.

INAC provided the Ross River Dena Council with “over $2.2 million for housing planning, renovations and construction, including the demolition of abandoned homes for future construction, construction of three duplexes and renovations to ten homes in the community,” INAC spokesperson Melissa Madden said in March.

“This is in addition to over $1.25 million in core funding and operations and maintenance (O&M) funding.”

Ross River received a total of $3,557,299 in capital infrastructure funding for housing in 2016-17, she said.

Comments (26)

Up 1 Down 0

Adam Greetham on Jan 6, 2022 at 9:48 am

Reflecting back on this investigation, rereading the article, reviewing the comments, and learning a great deal of additional challenges administration faced.... a few additional comments come to mind to assist another overview. Groundtrax is indeed Yukon business for 25 years now.
Next...my opinion......older log homes vs older box homes have healthier air quality statistically in Ross River; Yukon Housing obviously did not visit the many re-used Mobil homes brought from Faro, which literally had fungus growing through the wall panels, rotten out flooring with planks to cross, or the many homes with backed up sewage from frozen sewers, disconnect lines from permafrost shifting, and a few residents that simply did not comprehend consequences for their actions and affiliate them with health issues that arise nor care to financial repercussions.
Many comments regarding cleaning requirements etc., are as well pertinent, but not where the crisis lies. Education, a solid foundation, leak proof roof, plumbing, maintenance, ventilation, and a heating system that doesn’t fail goes a long way. When 27 home furnaces go down on the same day due to frozen fuel lines, houses freeze and plumbing connections start to drip where you can’t see it.... causes problems leading to crisis after decades. Keeping it simple for some and more advanced for others is a challenging balance, and in time, the kinks in the system get addressed, adapting to change in previous strict government requirements.
Ross River is a complex with good hearted people all of whom deserve respect, support and the attention they needed while they asked for help from the Yukon community we all live in ....Life isn’t easy nor is it simple. But log homes, wood stoves, big roofs on solid ground with an outhouse would do well for emergency preparedness in remote northern communities.
Ross River town site is in mucky permafrost surrounded by high and dry gravel benches.

Up 10 Down 0

moe on May 31, 2017 at 3:06 pm

Gizmo: Build the new houses across the river in the original site then. That works.

The event that happened in the 50's was ignorant and racist. It is also a 67 year old story and the people who perpetuated that crime against those cabin owners are all long dead.

The relevant component of that story for today is, perhaps that was a better location. (based on what you are saying about there being no flooding and stable land there. I didn't see flooding as an issue in this article other than clogged pipes, and the main complaints seemed to be mold and wear and tear.)

Thanks for your contribution.

So far as nobody having a say unless they live in Ross River, we all pay the taxes that are paying for the housing in question, same as paying for the Dawson hospital and sewage treatment plant, the nursing station in Watson Lake, etc. Thoughts on how we can do better with our tax dollars are justified. What is currently happening is not working. We are all fed up, not just the people who live in Ross River.

Up 8 Down 3

Just Sayin on May 31, 2017 at 2:40 pm

So no one does any maintenance, upkeep, repair, keep the moisture content down in their homes in Ross River kinda like the rest of us in the Yukon have to do on our own with our own money, because we know we have no one to say hey here's some more money from the Tax payers to what you couldn't be bothered to take care of........... sad

Up 9 Down 12

gizmo2067 on May 30, 2017 at 9:12 pm

Aside from all the racist rhetoric....it appears that many loud mouth Yukoners and newcomers don't know the history of Ross River. In the late 50s, the Indian Agent and the RCMP made a forced relocation of the Ross River people. There was no discussion or information relayed to the people. They would return to the Settlement of Tu Lulidini and discover their family's cabins were missing. By following the drag marks the families discovered that their homes were now on the south side of the Pelly River and some of these houses were just dropped off in unsuitable areas like the slough. People, whose lifestyle was interrupted by Residential Schools, alcohol and the 60s Scoop were struggling. This struggle still happens. The people had chosen an area where there was no flooding and the land was stable. The government insisted on relocating the people into an area where the land is unstable, and with climate change things are only going to get worse as the permafrost melts.
The only people who should have something to say about the housing crisis in Ross River are the people who live in Ross River.....

Up 9 Down 4

comen sence on May 30, 2017 at 4:51 pm

Comen sence : Cable foot bridge. Releveling a new school over and over. Condemed house rebuilding. My poor paycheck

Up 18 Down 8

Roger on May 30, 2017 at 10:40 am

I would venture a guess that the types of homes they build in Ross, are the same types of homes that people build all over Canada when one doesn't have a unlimited bank account to draw from, and all types of people live in them. Put me or your average person in one and I dare say they would last three times as long.
If responsibility and upkeep isn't respected what makes anyone think a more expensive or different type of house would last any longer unless it's a concrete bunker...
It is how you treat what you have that matters.

PS I will assume the tiny house fad hasn't extended to Ross yet then?

Up 9 Down 11

Adam Greteham on May 29, 2017 at 2:43 pm

Yukon Justice I could guess is new to the Yukon. Groundtrax Environmental Services Inc. has been here every year since the 1990's identifying problems and providing solutions.

Up 22 Down 2

moe on May 29, 2017 at 11:20 am

Would be very cool for a log home building business to start up in Ross. Nobody else could get away with it because our government dictates what we are allowed to live in, but they still have the freedom to live as they choose and they should exercise that freedom.

Like someone else said, good solid stacked square logs, a good tight door and double paned windows, a big wood stove and you're laughing.

Go for it Ross River! Wish I had the rights you do. Say no to the manufactured, poison homes that we are all forced to live in: fibreglass or spray foam insulation, plastic wrap, vapour barrier wrap, glued plywood, drywall, kiln dried wood shipped in from who knows where, - go natural and local.

I think it would be truly awesome to see log homes going up. Especially if built by the locals!

Up 33 Down 3

Just Sayin' on May 28, 2017 at 11:28 am

There are numerous issues here which need to be addressed. First, any repairs which are done to a home need to be completed by qualified people, not those who think they are doing it properly. When the band and or YTG hires contractors to complete repairs they need to be held accountable for the repairs completed and must have a review completed by the band and or other governing body.

Second, the band needs to take responsibility for their actions. They have no issues running to the YTG and or suing them for misuse of lands, but they refuse to help their own people first. They have spent monies taking YTG to court, yet the people in Ross River are living in unhealthy conditions. RRDC wants to be their own governing body, yet, they cannot take care of their own First Nations. The only analogy I can compare RRDC to, is that of a teenager. Teenager(s) tend to want their independence and do not want to be dictated to, but as soon as trouble arises, most run back to the parents for help just as RRDC does.

Third, the people of Ross must take care of these places. One cannot have leaking water and expect someone else to take care of it. If one has mould, clean it up with bleach. If one has a backed up septic system, stop sending grey water down until it can be addressed. If one has money for a vehicle, quad, sled, etc, one has the ability to maintain their house. If one does not like it, then change it, but do not expect someone to change it for you.

Finally, YTG and INAC, stop throwing money at easy Band-Aid solutions. How about you offer courses on basic home maintenance? How about you offer voluntary home checks to the housing tax payers provide, to ensure the upkeep is maintained? How about you hold those who live in the house accountable and document the damages which are done so, members of society stop believing these sob stories which are self inflicted?

As well, I would like to point out that there are numerous houses in Ross which people take care of. I am sorry that these people do not get a new house and or monies to upgrade their houses as they are being responsible adults.

Up 23 Down 2

north_of_60 on May 26, 2017 at 6:04 pm

@Brian
I live in an R2000 house heated with a woodstove and I don't have any mold problems. R-2000 homes are the healthiest homes in Canada IF they are properly maintained by educated homeowners who have a vested interest in preserving their personal investment in a healthy home.

This style of house does not work for social housing unless a qualified maintenance person is paid to maintain the houses.

The very best solution for social housing in outlying communities [just to be politically correct] is a 6x6 stack log house with an efficient woodstove and good double glazed windows and insulated doors. The stack-log construction will provide adequate fresh air and keep humidity levels low enough so mold does not grow.

The problem with remote community housing is caused by ignorant bureaucrats who insist on expensive inappropriate housing instead of simple solutions that the people want. I've been working in this field since the 1980s, and the problem has always been the bureaucratic politics not the technology.

Up 33 Down 9

finalsolution on May 26, 2017 at 5:12 pm

Sorry to say, but it does appear to be the case that the entire community needs to grow a sense of responsibility for its property ( and its dogs ) or just raze the entire village to the ground and leave it to decompose naturally, without any human assistance.

Up 76 Down 7

Groucho d'North on May 26, 2017 at 11:57 am

I would suggest that it is not a housing crisis being suffered in Ross River, but rather a responsibility crisis. Similar to the lack of basic dog care and security, residents of the community now demand government step in to correct the problems that basic home maintenance would prevent. It's time to address the disease rather than just the symptoms.

Up 73 Down 9

north_of_60 on May 26, 2017 at 11:38 am

Ross River is facing an ongoing and ever increasing accountability crisis.
We the taxpayers have seen enough of their excuses. Demand a forensic audit before any more money is given to them.

Up 54 Down 4

Teach them how to Clean on May 26, 2017 at 7:36 am

My experience, as a landlord, is that many people do not know how to clean properly. I wipe up excess moisture on my personal window sills to ensure mould won't grow; I regularly clean my bathroom with bleach, etc. My tenants need to be told repeatedly to wipe up excess moisture, to stay on top of it. This is not just one family; I have had the same conversation with at least six different families that I rent to. Is it a cultural thing? Is it racism? No, it's mould. Mould does not discriminate.

Up 40 Down 3

Brian on May 26, 2017 at 7:22 am

Sounds like Log homes on cribbing would be the best solution. These R-2000 style homes are not healthy at all. Their mills in Watson lake vacant, get one going, employee your First Nations people, and build simple earth friendly, Eco-friendly log homes from the trees standing around Roas River.
Stop building with drywall, vapour barrier and pink insulation. Throw that retarded HVAC system out. Ross River people are people of the land, they burn fire wood, it's obvious the mechanical air exchange doesn't work or is disconnected to have levels of mould that bad.
Plus home ownership may help too, nothing like having Pride in your Castle.
It's a simple process, maybe I need to start a consulting firm, Called "Simple Solutions". But would need to register it maybe in Nepean, Ontario.

Up 52 Down 2

moose101 on May 25, 2017 at 7:01 pm

$3,557,299 divided by 146 = $24,365.00 per house per year not bad for o&m. I would love to spend that much on my house every year.

Up 29 Down 9

BnR on May 25, 2017 at 6:46 pm

One word. Maintenance. Crazy, I know.
I don't maintain my home, it has problems.
And Groundtrax is local. Get yer facts right Yukon Justice.

Up 13 Down 4

First Nations hosing were not built on May 25, 2017 at 6:08 pm

properly for the First Nations culture. Federal government has put in $200 million in First Nations housing in the Yukon to correct the mistakes and provide the housing First Nations needs.
This was put out in the mid 2000's. The Federal Government put in $32.5 million.

Up 48 Down 10

jc on May 25, 2017 at 5:49 pm

Why can't these people learn to look after their own homes. There is a mould problem in these cheap houses simply because too many people are living in them. The tax payers have had enough. it's time to bring back the Conservative Party's legislation forcing them to account for every dollar they are given. The Liberal repealed it so they could get all their FN votes. What an incompetent way to run a country.

Up 44 Down 0

build it on May 25, 2017 at 5:24 pm

Lots of trees up there. I live in a log home with a wood stove and it's great. No need for all these crappy 'southern built-style' boxes. I am all for local built cozy homes.

Up 26 Down 2

john henry on May 25, 2017 at 5:09 pm

proscience is right , why is everything based on consultants, most of them don't know the ***end of a donkey

Up 54 Down 5

yukon56 on May 25, 2017 at 4:57 pm

Free house, no need to care for it just ask for a new one and it goes on and on.

Up 91 Down 3

Thomas Brewer on May 25, 2017 at 4:38 pm

"Ross River received a total of $3,557,299 in capital infrastructure funding for housing in 2016-17"

Were I a member of this FN, I would be demanding a full accounting of where this money went - 'cause it sure doesn't seem like it went where it was supposed to.

Up 36 Down 24

Yukon Justice on May 25, 2017 at 4:16 pm

The real problem is that Groundtrax Environmental Services is another outside company from Ontario giving its shortsighted, inexperienced opinion of how we should do things in the Yukon. They are probably related to the folks who built Whistle Bend.

If there is mold we can fix it, there are plenty of trained and competent contractors here. Send this company packing.

Up 39 Down 9

ProScience Greenie on May 25, 2017 at 4:04 pm

In the old days people would grab an axe and build a simple warm home. Maybe do that instead of feeding money to consultants and government minions to tell people what they already know. These days we have chainsaws and small band saw mills and front end loaders. Easy peasy to build simple homes for cheap and the RRDC doesn't have to follow the stupider parts of the building code or green initiatives or anything else silly and wasteful that comes from Ottawa or Whitehorse.

Up 16 Down 36

Alli on May 25, 2017 at 2:34 pm

Yeah, this is awful. Anywhere in the world now, there's a housing crisis. One of the many reasons I'm not having children.

Add your comments or reply via Twitter @whitehorsestar

In order to encourage thoughtful and responsible discussion, website comments will not be visible until a moderator approves them. Please add comments judiciously and refrain from maligning any individual or institution. Read about our user comment and privacy policies.

Your name and email address are required before your comment is posted. Otherwise, your comment will not be posted.