First, Floyd Poulain's landlord said he was evicting him to make room for his brother-in-law. Then he said it was because of bad behaviour. But in the end he ensured that Poulain couldn't stay by throwing out his possessions and starting renovations to his unit.

The landlord said Poulain abandoned his Halifax apartment — a one-bedroom in an 11-unit building in the Fairview neighbourhood — but Poulain, 74, said he was forced out.

Sydnee Blum, a legal aid adviser working with Poulain, calls it an i…