TORONTO - Toronto Community Housing is offering a compensation package for residents of a downtown highrise forced from their homes by a fire in September.
The 200 Wellesley Compensation Plan is available to tenants of 200 Wellesley St. E. who suffered losses and personal hardship because of the fire.
The program offers each leaseholder compensation up to $5,300 for loss of belongings.
Tenants would also be compensated for emotional distress, loss of comfort and convenience, food spoilage and loss of income.
The fire forced the evacuation of about 1,700 people.
The north tower and the 24th floor of the south tower are still closed to tenants and many have been unable retrieve belongings left behind in the evacuation.
Toronto Community Housing says former Ontario chief justice Roy McMurtry has reviewed the plan and recommended it as preferable to a potentially lengthy class action.
Tenants who participate in the voluntary compensation plan are expected to receive payment within five business days of their claims being settled.
"Toronto Community Housing is offering this help on a compassionate basis so that tenants can return to their normal lives as soon as possible," Mitzie Hunter, the agency's chief administrative officer, said Thursday.
