Concerns about safety and cleanliness have some Ottawa residents who live in social housing complexes complaining to their landlord.
Although Gloria Brown says she loves her downtown apartment, she says the condition of the building, which is operated by Ottawa Community Housing, has her concerned.
"I'm not happy here," Brown told CTV Ottawa.
She says the wafting stench of garbage in her building often forces her outside. Although she says her landlord has attempted to mask the stench, she is still concerned the situation will escalate and eventually become a health risk.
"They do put some sort of a solution in the garbage room but that kills you too," said Brown.
Patricia Burgess, who lives across town, says she only leaves her social housing unit at certain times of the day because she fears for her safety.
"At night time . . . I don't go out because there's too many people coming in and out of the building and people are letting them in," said Burgess.
Several complaints about similar issues have led to a new program called the Healthy Communities Initiative, which is designed to help build better neighbourhoods for people who depend on social housing.
Sandra Pilotte of the Tenant Advisory Group says the goal of the project is to make the buildings better places for people to live.
She says she wants people to think of the complex as more than just a building, but a place to call "home."
The Healthy Communities Initiative is a pilot project that is set to be tested in two of 160 communities owned by Ottawa Community Housing.
With a report from CTV Ottawa's Chris Day
