City of St. John's evicting 82-year old woman, who says she hasn't been told why

The City of St. John's is about to evictan 82-year old woman who uses a wheelchair and she says no one has told her why.

For now, Shirley Cox lives on her own in an apartment on the second floor of Riverhead Towers on Hamilton Avenue, near many of her friends butshehas only a few days left to pack her belongings.

The city's eviction notice doesn't give a clear reasonwhy they wantCox out of the apartment. She said it was "a shock" to find it pinned to her door.

But Cox believes the city's evicting her because she's a smoker.

Shetold CBC News on Tuesday she doesn't smoke indoors but can only make it as far her building's front door, and not the designated smoking area on the property.

"This old chair is not the best. There's a dip in the top part[of the sidewalk].It's not a big dip, but the wheel gives out and I could tip over," Cox said.

"The smoking areais down over the hill, right in through the back, and I just can't handle it."

Cox said she doesn't bother anyone with her smoking, except for one person who she said made a complaint to the city.

No reason given in eviction notice

The city's housing manager, Judy Tobin, is listed as the landlord on the notice, which reads, "I am terminating the tenancy and require you to move out of the residential premises on 10-31-2022," but doesn't offer any reason for the eviction.

When reached for comment,the city didn't address the smoking issueor offer a reason as to why they're evicting Cox.

Thecity did issue a statement,quoting Coun. OpheliaRavencroft.

"Regardless of circumstance, issuing an eviction notice is the most difficult decision with which staff in the housing division are faced. It is always our last resort, and it is not executed without proper consideration and due notice," said Ravencroft in the statement.

"While the division does not offer 'supportive housing,'our staff empathize with all tenants and do their best to uphold the regulations that are set out in the Residential Tenancies Act."

Cox took her problem to the provincial level, contacting interim NDPleader and districtMHA Jim Dinn.

Dinn told CBC News his party has been in touch with the city and got the same statement as CBC News.

"Our intent was to find out how we can avoid having her evicted and putting her in a situation where she's now homeless and isolated."

Dinn saidhis constituency assistant will visit Cox to help with an appeal.

If the appeal doesn't go their way, he said he's not sure what will happen.

"I hope the city can come up with a solution that doesn't involve eviction," Dinn said.

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