*this is a long but URGENT post… hope u have your coffee ready. ☕️
Hi my name is Samantha. I have 6 boys, 3 of which are much older but the younger 3 in the photo are my little guys. Jimm, Kar & Jaxxin. I’ve been living at our same address for nearly 3 years and from the very beginning the landlord has done everything to make our family uncomfortable. You see…two of my little guys have Cystic Fibrosis(Jimm & Jaxxin) and Kar has CHD (congenital heart disease) so our life is already very time consuming, between doctors and other activities we’re always on the go and on high alert. When we moved in I kind of briefed the landlord on our situation and he seemed very compassionate but that quickly took a turn.
After two months from moving in, I was approved for a housing allowance to help offset the cost of rent. At this time I had filled something out wrong on the application and they sent me a new one and paused my payment. I explained this to the landlord and let him know I’d be signing the funds directly over to him as soon as I sent the revised application approved(including the amount for that month).
At first he was ok with this and the funds were issued and all back to normal, or so I thought. During this time he had began reaching out to the place that issues the funds and asking personal information and why do they take so long. It was embarrassing to say the least but to keep the peace I asked him to stop doing this and left it alone. Next thing I knew I received an N4 notice (money owing) and I was confused because he literally confirmed with me that he received the funds. After that it was “let me check this out in the home” or “let me fix this” and if I asked for him to come the next day (at least give a little notice) and this is when the “I gave u this place because of your sick children! I don’t see them sick! Where are they?”…I was appalled. Nonetheless I continued to live our life and try my best to ignore the nonsensical behaviour from him.
One day we’re getting ready for school and a hydro worker knocks on our door and posts a disconnection notice on our door. It said it was for unpaid bills. Now our rent is all inclusive, so I told this to the hydro employee but of course that’s not his job and he had to continue with the disconnection. I immediately called the landlord and he ignored me for 24 hours. The next day he said he was out of the country and it’s being taken care of and a whole other 24hrs went by and still no power. Day 3 we finally got reconnected and the landlord started telling us to not use as much electricity. The arrears on this notice was $1700 so I informed him that we’ve only been living here 2 months and we are very mindful of our electricity use because we know our rent is all inclusive, so this not paying the bill thing isn’t going to work. A week later, no heat…this is November so it’s cold! He sends his handyman out and he looks around and leaves with no other communication. I tried asking what was going on but at this point I’m already done.
Heat was off for 5 days, we had space heaters and all had to sleep downstairs in the main room to stay warm. Having medically fragile children this is also not a good thing to have happen. All was good until around spring of 2023, the power went out again. This time I’m like “ok the power has to be out in the neighborhood!” because nobody knocked on our front door, no notice on the door…so I go outside and ask our neighbors if they have electricity and they said they seen the hydro guy just leaving! I check the mailbox and sure enough, another disconnection notice…this time no information written just a standard paper explaining what to do next. I’m not the account holder so when I called they said to get him to call immediately and if it’s not resolved within the day to call the housing enforcement unit and lodge a complaint. The day went by and no power so I made a formal complaint and that’s when we received a N12 (notice to evict so he can move in). He said he needed the house but come to find out he just added a huge addition to his house including an elevator so this was clearly out of malice.
We’ve gone to the landlord and tenant board twice and the first time the denied his application and the second time I said I would try and secure alternative accommodation by the end of May but I can’t make any guarantees. Apparently this is law binding because I got a letter from the LTB stating that I agreed to move out on May 31st, 2025 and if I don’t leave on that day, the landlord can file with the sheriff to enforce the eviction. I was a little surprised but nonetheless I continued to look at new homes for my family and I.
End of May rolls around and I let the landlord know that my search isn’t going so great and there’s no way I’ll be able to move on May 31st. He said “ok we’ll see what can be done.” I should’ve known…he filed with the sheriff! We got a letter in the mail dated June 2nd, 2025 on June 13th saying we’d have to leave on June 16th, 2025 @ 9am. I check my mail regularly but nothing was there all week so something obviously went wrong here. The envelope was open, not ripped open but like it was sealed but came loose. Either way at this point I’m freaking out, went and sought out legal advice and assistance and was told that the chances of my request to “stay the sheriff order” is slim to none because I “agreed” to the order but again, I can’t just not try…so it’s submitted but no update yet and the clock is ticking.
I have to mention that during our time living at this house multiple pieces of mail would come up missing (always the important stuff). I would ask him if when he checked his mail if he accidentally may have grabbed a piece of mine and he would say I’m accusing him of stealing and he’s not like the people here in this country who get away with crimes.” Now I’m not sure what this meant but I’m fairly certain it was his way of expressing his anger? I don’t know.
So I’ve done all I can do, I’ve exhausted my energy and resources, we have a moving truck rented with nowhere to store our belongings temporarily. No funds to get a hotel room, and no leads on places.
I don’t get any type of government assistance also due to my landlord. Let me try and explain this as well and as brief as possible… so when a landlord files an N12 he has to give at least one month compensation for rent, he did leave me a check in the mailbox on the house (not the community locked mailboxes) so I deposited the check and didn’t really think much of it because it’s for rent at our future home. A week goes by and I get the check returned to me in the mail saying “returned item advice” or some weird thing. I called and the customer service rep told me to request a new check from my landlord, so that’s what I did. He flipped out again, this time saying that I’m accusing him of writing fraudulent checks. I said no I never said that it returned and they asked me to request a new one. Didn’t hear from him for a month or so. I guess he had dropped another check in the same mailbox and again, deposited, went about my business.
I go to get groceries one evening and my card was declined, could log into my app, but couldn’t move anything! So I went to the ATM, tried to pull out cash and it said to see someone in my branch. The next day I go in first thing in the morning and I’m told my account is under investigation for fraud. I explained that the only irregularities were the two checks I deposited so they gave me a number to call at corporate and couldn’t release any more information. I believe it’s still under investigation because I’ve been calling and no answer and no returned calls despite my multiple messages and even emails. So now I’m in this messy situation, no money (my savings and everything was in that bank.) a crazy landlord who is now harassing me nonstop about when I’m leaving and even installed cameras facing my front door. A potential eviction, a family who depends solely on me! Surely this is what Ontario Works is for right? WRONG.
I applied and gave them everything they asked for and even got a letter from my bank stating my account is currently under investigation and they’re not allowed to release so much as a receipt to me in regards to my account with them. I explained this to the Ontario works social worker and they flat out refused to help me, said I’d need 30 days of bank statements and when I asked to speak to a supervisor or manager about the matter, I was then required to give them 6 months of bank statements, ID for everyone, a lease, rent receipts, the value of my vehicle….I just had to accept it for what it was and acknowledge the fact that I’m officially in need of some support. And this is where I turn to u guys, my last resort.
There’s so much more where my landlord is concerned. The water was shut off for 4 days, the power was cut off a total of 4 times, this last time was May 26th, 2025. I was in the process of giving one of my sons their nebulizer treatments and the power was just cut off! He was already not feeling the greatest on this day so it was very difficult to keep my cool but I did, texted the landlord and ended up having to take my son to the children’s hospital to seek his and his brothers medical treatments for their Cystic Fibrosis. I’ll slowly post more pics and possibly even some of the evidence I provided the landlord and tenant board. I’m relatively shy, and am used to keeping my private business very private, so please bear with me. I will do as much as I can on my end.
I’m exhausted, I’m trying my hardest and since living here it’s been nothing but bad luck, and even worse anxiety and stress. However…I’m resilient and I will overcome these obstacles with the help of God.
I’m very grateful if u took the time to read my story, even if u can’t donate, please share it. It means the world to my boys and I during these difficult times. And if u can donate, we thank u from the bottom of our hearts. I will put my email below if anyone prefers e-trans (much faster as well) any donation made via email I will be posting the in update section to acknowledge any and all contributions.
It’s currently 7am, so we only have 2 hours before we’re locked out.
Ideally I’d love to raise enough to cover an airbnb long term stay (2 weeks or however long it takes to secure appropriate housing) that way my children won’t have to live in a hotel room but at this point, I’m willing to do whatever is necessary to protect and provide.
I’m hopeful this reaches enough people to help make a difference. It’s taken me having to force myself to swallow my pride in posting this.
Please…I ask that u pray my family and I get thru this tumultuous time with little to no pain or stress felt by my children.
email: samanthamontour at gmail dot com (have to put it this way so it can upload. If it doesn’t work I will post in comments) this is for etransfer . If u do happen todonate today, this is the fastest route, and as I mentioned above I will be posting any and all of the contributions in an update section.
Much Love & Prosperity,
Samantha & her sons.
