Contractors - Pros and Cons

Contractor At Work.

Urban Native Homes Inc. downsized staff especially maintenance and the effects are apparent. ie: A refrigerator brakes down and the UNH’s office handed out gift cards to the tenant to compensate for the spoiled food. The proper procedure is to have a appliance supplier handy for such emergencies and funds available to pay for the replacement. Also contract maintenance to the KMHC grounds was the shits this summer.

Last Friday KMHC tenants received a “24 Hour Notice To Enter Unit” taped to their doors announcing there will be unit inspection carried out by a hired contractor on today’s date. That’s fine with me last time we had a unit inspection was years ago when we had a superintendent. So yesterday getting ready for the inspection I gave my unit a complete shakedown and prepare to ask questions regarding maintenance to my unit and will there be a follow-up. I plan to be present when the contractor knocks on my door. I don’t like strangers entering my dwelling unless invited or I’m lying in a pool of blood and need medical attention. Anyway the unit inspection never took place the contractor guys showed up after 9 am then soon after I heard them complaining about something as they walked to their truck and drove off. So here I am thinking are they going for a coffee run and coming back to start the job. We tenants are waiting and being inconvenienced I manage to work around my errands and appointments for a bloody unit inspection that never happened. Thank you UNH’s. :P

We were never notified of the cancellation, today nothing was accomplished in the KMHC office and that’s their problem. I know one thing I want a new written “24 Hour Notice To Enter” from the office before anybody steps foot in my unit.

The difference between employees and hiring independent contractors: staff knows what the job entails and will not leave in a huff. Contractors can come and go as they please plus there is no loyalty and the employer is not allowed to tell the contractor how to do the job. Should an employer do this the contractor will be deemed an employee thus the employer must pay full wages and benefits. Something I’m sure UNH’s doesn’t want to do.
From what I've heard independent contractors sued UNH's. I don't know if it's resolved or still pending. When will the women *UNH's* learn to stop dragging cheap labour off the streets and hire experienced maintenance staff that cares. Sheesh!

Comments

Poor Working Environment

My unit is located near the KMHC office, along with a friendly wave or hello I see the junior staff going about their business in a cheerful manner with the exception of one employee. You would think KMHC has a pleasant working environment but that is not the case. March 2016 is when Urban Native Homes head office was forced to move from their former spacious location to the cramp basement level of KMHC. There were approx. 8-10 staff members at the time. Then the Urban Native Homes financial scandal broke out and soon after the current UNH acting director’s illicit past became public knowledge, everyone was worried will they have a job. Fearful meetings going on in the community room, the rumor mill was in full rotation while I just stood back and observed the panic. Check your search engine it states this building location is Urban Native Homes head office yet that is not correct. There is no real head office, the organization has s...

The Passing of Dean King

There's not many original KMHC tenants left that I know, last week I got word tenant Dean King passed away, we were not related and I remember when he moved in the building we got along well, we hung out often and he shared stories about his life and family. Eventually I notice he wasn't the sharpest pencil in the drawer and I started drifting away thus ended our friendship. Dean didn't have the usual addictions most male aboriginals endure he didn't drink or do drugs the problem was his mental state which I believe began after an auto accident years before. After I moved out of KMHC I'd often see him standing in line at the food bank in Gore Park in downtown Hamilton or hanging out with street friend Galina in Jackson Square food court. He didn't have many friends and other KMHC tenants just tolerated and accepted his strange behavior. He'd walk the streets looking disheveled and lost. When I received the news Dean died I didn't feel sad I felt surpri...

Sandy Holland

On February 27th 2025 I heard the passing of tenant Elder Sandy Holland. I knew she was in bad health and said to her friend she's ready to go. I met her years ago when she moved to KMHC she seem a bit daffy yet in a nice way, never spoke mean about others but had strong opinions about UNH staff. We would meet at UNH dinner functions and meetings and always offered me hug. She never got personal sharing her life stories with me which I can respect. RIP

Hamilton Indigenous Housing

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