Going to the mailbox to check for letters and packages is a daily ritual for most of us, but not for people living in the Manitoba Housing complex in Winnipeg.

Their mail is being cut off.

“We haven’t received any mail for 18 months,” said resident Jonathan Kotyk. “Canada Post will not deliver this.”

A metal fence was installed last year after thieves broke into mailboxes, Kotyk said.

Prevents criminals and residents from accessing the community mailbox. Kotyk was told it could take a long time for anything to be done.

Instead, a notice posted in the lobby tells residents to go to the Canada Post warehouse in McDermot, a 15-minute walk away, to pick up their mail.

“Half the building is made up of families, and most of them work during the day,” Kotyk said. “They can’t go down to the warehouse during the day.”

But even if Kotyk went to the warehouse, he still couldn’t get his mail. His government-issued ID has expired and Canada Post won’t send him his mail without it.

“This is a bureaucratic purgatory of nightmarish proportions. There is no excuse for this.”

Resident Lisa Martin said she felt abandoned by Manitoba Housing.

“I’m disappointed there’s no solution to our problems. They’re just getting band-aids,” Martin said. “And we are the ones who will suffer the consequences.”

In a statement, the state spokesperson writes:

“The province is investing $5 million to repair Manitoba Housing buildings across the province, including 375 Kennedy St. Manitoba Housing is working with Canada Post to implement a new mailbox design at this property to provide residents with safer mailbox options. The work is expected to be completed within the next six months. In the meantime, tenants can pick up their mail at the Canada Post office located at 400 McDermot Ave. Tenants with mobility issues are encouraged to contact Canada Post to inquire about the Delivery Accommodation Program, which provides mail delivery directly to their home. “

Meanwhile, residents like Kotyk and Martin are on their own.