A debate over evicting residents from a seniors’ home in Humboldt comes down to safety versus housing.

Ten independent seniors living in a wing of the St. Mary's Villa care home were told last week they had to be out by the end of this week. This is to make room for 32 residents with intensive medical needs who have to evacuate their wing because of sagging floors.

Vice President of People Services for the Saskatoon Health Region, Bonnie Blakley admitted that the floors are not an immediate danger but they still pose a problem.

“There are significant structural issues here. No engineering report says – is someone going to fall through the floor - but (it) would recommend that we start to look at moving people out,” Blakley said.

Although evicting tenants is never ideal, Blakley said ultimately the safety of people who need medical care trumps the problem of moving 10 residents.  She said she understands that St. Mary’s Villa is there home but that is difficult to balance when they need the space for health care.

Jim Ramsey's mother Alice is one of the tenants being evicted and he is calling for more compensation. He is not undermining the safety concern but he said some residents have been negatively affected by what he calls a "hasty decision" causing them grief and possibly leading to some health issues.

“To push them out in the matter that has been done, to put them in a place that could cost double or triple in a year’s time – is just unbelievable,” Ramsey said.

The health region is trying to help by covering the cost difference of the tenants’ new homes and paying their first month's rent.

The estimated cost is around $250,000 per family but Ramsey is requesting life-long compensation, as well as a government review into the health region's actions.

The health region said they are willing to sit down with Ramsey to discuss his concerns.

Edited by News Talk Radio's Adriana Christianson