Revised - The Yukon Housing Corp. has acted quickly to fix a problem at one of its properties at 22 Waterfront Place in Whitehorse.

Following a complaint from the family of an 88-year-old resident who had to let first responders in early last Saturday morning to provide medical treatment, the entry system was fixed by 3:30 Monday afternoon.

As the Star reported Monday, the resident had to go down three storeys in her housing corporation-operated building last weekend because she wasn’t able to let them in remotely due to a malfunctioning door system.

In an email obtained by the Star, Linnet Williams, who lives in British Columbia, stated, “911 Police/Ambulance/Fire will be submitting a complaint directly about not having access to 22 Waterfront Place.”

On Monday evening, Williams informed the Star the doors had been repaired after a few months in disrepair.

“Our mother (who asked not to be identified) lives at 22 Waterfront Place. On Saturday, January 13, 2024, just after midnight, she was in medical distress and called 911 for an ambulance,” Williams said.

“The paramedics were unable to gain entry to the building via the buzzer at the front door because it is not working. If you can believe that our 88-year-old mother had to drag herself down the hall from the third floor to the elevator, take the elevator down three flights, to let the emergency first responders in to give her medical treatment.

“Our mother was then transported to the hospital via the ambulance service.”

Williams and her sister, Bobbie Kufeldt, who lives in Riverdale, told the Star their mother is suffering from pneumonia.

Williams said, “Monday, the fact that Yukon Housing has been aware of this situation for months and that the system has not yet been repaired is incomprehensible. You are putting lives in danger.” 

Williams said the first responders who attended that night advised that they would submit a complaint directly to Yukon Housing, “and we would like to follow that complaint up with our own.”

The Star asked the housing corporation what it’s doing to respond to tenants’ concerns about the problems of letting people into the building to provide care.

“Yukon Housing Corporation takes this situation very seriously and is continuing to work with emergency personnel to ensure our tenants are safe,” Julie Ménard, its senior communications advisor, responded Tuesday.

“We make it our priority to respond to concerns raised by all our tenants as soon as possible.

“There have been issues with the intercom system at 22 Waterfront,” Ménard added.

“Yukon Housing Corporation sends a qualified contractor as soon as possible to troubleshoot and repair when issues are reported.”

For all multi-unit buildings, the housing corporation provides access to secure lockboxes with building keys to all emergency providers.

The lockboxes are used by the RCMP, the local fire department and EMS personnel. They have been given the codes to access the lockboxes.

“This has been communicated to all emergency providers,” Ménard said.

“The emergency personnel can always access our buildings with the lockboxes when the intercom is not working. Yukon Housing Corporation will follow up with the emergency personnel to revisit the lockbox procedures.”

The Star pointed out there have been at least 10 complaints filed over the last several months about the problem.

“Yukon Housing Corporation responds to all tenant complaints related to our properties and ensures the issue in question is dealt with,” Ménard responded.

“We have responded to several requests from 22 Waterfront regarding the intercom system and acted upon it.

“The contractors were on site January 15 to respond to the latest malfunction.”