5365 rue Berri
it's a shame that i do not get to update here more often, but usually, things continue to be on the up and up and reading them back always makes me feel good. I will definitely get to the good stuff, but first i just wanna post a little warning for those who might be looking for an apartement this winter. i agree that it can be hard walkin into a place with onl your pack and your blankets and expect someone to rent to you, but i also agree that it is easy to accept the first crap-house you find. For the past two years, i lived at 5365 rue Berri. (rue berri coin st-gregoire). i came off the streets and was amazed that i was rented to. Unfortunately, the bloc was a terror from day one. Random infestations of mice, cockroaches and BED BUGS(which im allergic to) made it difficult to find/buy things for the place because they always got ruined. the landlord, like many, named PETER SKIERKA, was solely for the money and sent random people into the apartments to make réparations, (if it ever happened at all!) and things were always stolen. my bathroom ceiling caved in THREE times in TWO years and was NEVER repaired. i was attacked behind the building just last week, and i was told to suck it up. the bloc is well-known by police and they rarely respond to 911 calls or for fire, which also happens often because users are smoking crack in the fire escapes which are boarded SHUT! Its easy to accept the place, because it allows dogs and smokers, but these are the ONLY 2 advantages.
Three weeks ago, i told the concierge that i would be leaving for november. There is no bail or anything to sign, so i did not really need to give any notice. anyway, three weeks ago told the concierge and they DID NOT tell the landlord!!, so on friday, i told them it would be Monday that i would leave and they kicked me out with less than 20 hours to pack my things, find helpers and find a truck. I was pissed, because i offered to pay a week's rent so they would not lose money, but they wanted A FULL MONTH'S!!! I needed the ONE day extra cuz i cant move to my new place until tomorrow. (monday). so, 1000$ later and an amazing group of friends, my life is parked on the street in a moving truck for three days! Again, i want to warn people about this place (5365 rue berri) and places like it because i would sleep another winter outside than stay in that place another day!!
PS- a little warning for users... the concierge of this building uses heroin and uses her extra keys to help herself into your apartment to search for things to pawn!
Wow...thanks for sharing your experience with us here and the heads up for the folks there in Montreal...Peace..JH
That is horrible!!! You know I live in the neighborhood, just 2 blocks away, but things are so very different. When we sometimes pass by this building it seems all in shambles! How is it even legal to rent out a building in the condition you mentioned??? When we pass you can tell it is only those exploited who resort to this building. I commend you on your courage Robyn. I've read your blog a little and see we've lived very different lives. I think your brave and strong, and a great role-model for others in your previous situation. As for the building, how would I, a concerned fellow community member be able to help? It's obvious the building needs repair. Do ppl there make complaints at the Regie? It's not normal for a building to have such infestation. What if there are children?? This is obviously a SCUM-LORD!!!! He better whatch his back, because things have a way of getting back at you.
All the best to you Robyn, I'm so glad you're no longer there.
Your a fighter! And your winning!!! Kuuuudddoooossss!!!!
oh man, i think this is the type of building that will just fall down before anyone does anything about it.
The landlord is an ex-cop who seems to be able to get around many things that he's accused of. There is a dealer that lives in the basement and he's pays double rent to stay there safely. There are people living there, some who are mentally ill as well, who've been there over ten years and the conditions have only gotten worse for them. the problem is that the majority of people that are living there believe that they'll never find better, or that they don't deserve better, so they just adjust and accept. and its a fact that there is atleast ONE baby living there for sure, or atleast she was in the winter time, and i can only imagine how the poor thing fended for itself.
the first year living there, the floor of my bathroom was severely damaged by fire and it was NEVER fixed... i did my own half-ass repairs and painted it to look nice, but if you stepped in the wrong place, its sure that you would go right thru the floor!
The landlord also owns another two or three buildings, and they seem to be in much better shape. I just think that he understands the state of the people that are living there, and he chooses to exploit them.
Hey Robyn!
I hope you’re doing well. I’ve written here before. I thought of you and thought I’d write you a line and say hello.
I was at the Jean Coutu ( on Laurier) this morning where a young man who told me lives at 5365 Berri, befriended me for a conversation, very proudly proclaiming his abstinence from drugs for the past some months and decreasing on his methadone dosage. He also confided his g/f was pregnant and he hopes to be a good provider. His plan for the day was to hopefully find a warm coat for the cold weather arriving. He never asked for money, nor did i feel that was the goal of his conversation.
For the most part, i think he wanted to talk and be heard, aside from sparing himself of the boredom while he waited for his dose. But I appreciated his honesty, and friendly manner. He also expressed frustration, that sometimes he feels the course of this treatment is long and hopes he’ll make it. I wanted to say – Hey! I « know » someone who’s went through that too, and succeeded! – But I just told him i had confidence he could do it. And although he seemed to appreciate my vote of confidence, I wonder how encouraging I could possibly be when he obviously sees that i’ve never been through the same kind of struggles as him.
When the door to the pharmacy opened, I sincerely wished him a nice day and he reciprocated the same wish with a smile. With that I wondered, have you ever thought of getting into the service of helping those who are taking the path you've already walked? I think you'd be an invaluable role-model, with an experience others would be able to relate to and be inspired from.
In any case, i think you're voice here is still very powerful, and commend you in sharing your personal story. Others will positively learn from you, even me ;)
My goal today: Ima try to find this young lad a coat.
Hey Robyn: Listen to marymimi - she makes a great point!
Hey Marymimi: Wonderful post! Good luck with the coat hunt!
This is my comment on Robyn's overblown comments on 5365 rue Berri. First of all half of what Robyn is saying are lies and second of all she is no angel herself as I knew her when she lived in the building, it is very easy to condemn others without looking at youself first. It is amazing to me how Robyn could be so hurtful to others which is a trait I remember she did quite well. Instead of praising people she would always put down...guess it made her feel better about herself. I was a person who stayed quiet and watched from afar. Every apartment building has it's problems but I believe Peter did the best he could. I know the probems with the bed bugs were bad but Robyn was such a BIG part of the problem as she would pick furniture and clothes that she would from the garbage and bring into the apartment and start the problem of the bugs over and over again. How can a person put down an apartment building and contribute to this massive problem and continue to live there for over 2 years. Someone please exlain this to me????...to be continued
Robyn, I would like to continue with my comments on this subject of this particular apartment building 5365 Berri. I want you to listen to what I am saying so as you can learn a little something on kindness. You talk of the janitor slealing from people when I remember them as ordinary people doing there job (not perfect) but trying. You yourself were on methedone treatment as I have heard you say that yourself to others. So, here we go again....WHY CONDEMN?????I was alot like you in the past and past came back one day to bite me in the butt...Why do you want to destroy others ? Leave things alone and remember one thing what goes around comes around in this life. I am so very happy I fell on to this site so I can leave my opinions from time to time and keep an update of what is going on in a place I one time called home.
Robyn, I would like to continue with my comments on this subject of this particular apartment building 5365 Berri. I want you to listen to what I am saying so as you can learn a little something on kindness. You talk of the janitor slealing from people when I remember them as ordinary people doing there job (not perfect) but trying. You yourself were on methedone treatment as I have heard you say that yourself to others. So, here we go again....WHY CONDEMN?????I was alot like you in the past and past came back one day to bite me in the butt...Why do you want to destroy others ? Leave things alone and remember one thing what goes around comes around in this life. I am so very happy I fell on to this site so I can leave my opinions from time to time and keep an update of what is going on in a place I one time called home.
Hey Chanel 14, I don't think Robyn was condemnig anybody. She herself acknowledged being victim to her own decisions and choices. Though as she did progress through making better choices, she was merely sending out to her fellow comrades tips on survival 101-when you’re homeless, broke and addicted. She wasn’t attempting to “destroy” anyone, rather offer helpful advice to a population who can often use it, since they have no one else to offer them not even a bit of sound advice. I think we can all agree that it is unfortunate for anyone to have to live in the deplorable conditions of that building. Sure poor landlord. Unfortunately there are too many out there who have no problem making a living exploiting those who have few resources, power or protection. From drug dealers, pimps, and even slum-lords, all too eager to make a lucrative profit off the backs of the poor, the mentally-ill, and diminished who often have no other choice. It`s an unfortunate sociological problem that those unaffected by these social issues just turn a blind eye and hope ``government` will take care of it. Truth is our governments are doing very little for those who are marginalized. Quebec has the highest rate of high-school dropout rate in the country, only to set the stage for further demise. Sure people live out the consequences of their own choice, but circumstances such as poverty, lack of education and community resources only help to set the stage.
People have a right to blog about their experiences and feelings without feeling threatened. This is what we call freedom of speech which even the poor, abused, and addicted are entitled to. It`s in the charter of human rights and freedoms in this country. Even if one has nothing left, they still have their voice to make a difference.
Where ever you are Robyn, I wish you all the best, I hope you`re still doing well! You`re voice is your strength, never let anyone take that away from you! Xoxoxoxo
noticed all these messages about the landlord of 5365 Berri. I'm not sure what Robyn is talking about because I live in the building and I have only good things to say about the landlord. I'm just confused as to why would someone stay in a bulding if they get robbed??? I've asked around and nobody has been thrown out by the landlord. If anything I've been told that the landlord actually helped a few people out of the street including myself. It's really sad and wrong when someone bashes a person that's actually doing good.
I am glad to see the great working being done on this. There is so much that you can get from this. I am definitely a big fan of it. Keep up the good work.
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