Nearly two weeks after a fire destroyed a Northumberland County Housing Corporation apartment building at 8 King Street, West in Colborne, accommodations have been identified for the 20 tenants displaced by the Jan. 30 incident.
From the earliest hours during the fire, Northumberland County Social Services Housing staff have worked one-on-one with affected tenants to help navigate this distressing and uncertain period.
Through this close collaboration, individualized housing plans have now been confirmed for all tenants.
These plans reflect a range of pathways, including independent housing solutions identified by tenants themselves, vacancies within NCHC units, placements in non-profit housing, rent supplements to support market accommodations, and other arrangements.
Northumberland County acknowledges and thanks the broader community for the outpouring of generosity shown in the days since the fire. Community benefits are being hosted and businesses have indicated support.
Also, many residents and organizations have reached out with offers of help, messages of support, and questions about how they could assist those affected.
While the County is not coordinating donations directly, financial contributions in support of tenants can continue to be made through the Colborne Legion at ColborneLegion187.ca, which has itself donated $2,000 to relief efforts.
Please include a note in the comments section on the donation page, directing your donation to 8 King Street Fire Relief.
Note that household goods and other types of donations are not being accepted at this time.
Work at the site of the fire is ongoing. The NCHC continues to work closely with its insurance provider to assess the damage and proceed with the safe clearance of debris – a necessary step before longer-term decisions about the property can be made.
One person died in the blaze on Jan. 30.
