A quadriplegic man says he could be homeless any day now after he was served with an eviction notice to vacate the assisted living home he鈥檚 been residing in for nearly 16 years.
Rohan Salmon was paralyzed from the chest down after a tragic car accident in northern Ontario in 2002. After the accident, the former ESL teacher moved from Toronto into the Sunrise Senior Living home in Richmond Hill, Ont., just north of the city.
Last week, Salmon received an eviction notice from the Sheriff鈥檚 Office ordering him to leave his rental unit by June 27. According to the home, it鈥檚 because he owes more than $18,000 in overdue rent.
鈥淎pparently, in 2014 I was given a rental increase, something I knew nothing about,鈥� Salmon told CTV Toronto on Wednesday.
The 49-year-old said he thinks he may have been sick in hospital at the time of the increase and that he only found out about it two-and-a-half years later.
鈥淚 wouldn鈥檛 have just ignored it, and I continued for two-and-a-half years paying the $175 per day rate just thinking that that would be fine,鈥� he explained. 鈥淣ot a single soul brought it to my attention until the bombshell hit me.鈥�
Management for Sunrise Senior Living said in a statement that the matter has already been addressed by a tribunal of Ontario's Landlord and Tenant Board.
鈥淒ue to privacy protections afforded all residents, we are unable to share more information,鈥� Luca Kamber, the director of operations for the company, wrote.
Sunrise Senior Living also sent CTV Toronto several documents indicating that Salmon had agreed to move out of the home by May 31. The documents also state that the 鈥渓andlord shall not seek payment of the arrears,鈥� or the outstanding debt, claimed in the hearing.
Salmon鈥檚 lawyers called the assisted living home鈥檚 decision to evict their client inhumane and draconian. They said he had every intention of complying with the eviction order, but he hasn鈥檛 been able to leave yet because he鈥檚 on waitlists for other homes.
鈥淗e鈥檚 trying,鈥� lawyer Melissa Miller said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 made his best efforts and he has nowhere to go.鈥�
Salmon said he suspects he鈥檚 facing a long wait to find a bed because care homes have to consider special accommodations for him, such as a ceiling lift.
With nowhere to go, Salmon said he鈥檚 just waiting for the day someone comes knocking on his door to force him out of his apartment.
鈥淚 have no sense of security, safety,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 cannot sleep. I cannot really think.鈥�
With only a few belongings packed away in boxes, Salmon said he鈥檚 been living in a state of limbo, unsure if he鈥檒l be staying or going.
鈥淚t鈥檚 just not knowing where my next destination is going to be and if I鈥檒l ever have a sense of home again,鈥� he said.
With a report from CTV Toronto鈥檚 Janice Golding
