THUNDER BAY – A father of six is turning to the public to find a short-term rental after a fire ripped through their Ontario Street home early Saturday morning.
Tim Morris said the repairs to their home are expected to take up to two months, and he’s worried if they don’t find shelter soon, his children could be taken from him and his wife and placed in foster care.
“Finding a short-term rental is hard,” said Morris, who has exhausted all of his options, including looking at homeless shelters as a last-ditch possibility.
The city’s homeless shelters are at or over capacity and he was told the only way his wife and children would qualify for a woman’s shelter would be if they were being abused. They’ve also sought help from Nishnawbe Aski Nation.
The Morris family is being temporarily put up by the Red Cross, but that funding runs out on Tuesday.
That has him concerned for the well-being of his children.
“There are laws that protect children,” he said. “The Thunder Bay housing market is horrible. We have to find a rental or we could end up having our kids apprehended to care. It’s heartbreaking.”
Morris said the home, which he has rented for about 15 years, suffered extensive smoke damage in the fire. Upon re-entry, other issues were discovered with the home, leading to much more elaborate repairs than originally thought necessary.
“I’ve slept once since the fire happened,” Morris said.
“I’m looking for someone who might have a short-term rental. We’re not looking for anything big.”
The family has also started a Go Fund Me page, seeking to raise about $10,000 to replace clothing, mattresses and other households goods lost in the fire.
“We’re just trying to get through Thanksgiving as a family,” Morris said. “We’re just looking to get the basic necessities and stay together.”
Morris can be reached at 1-902-298-3244.
