The City of Winnipeg has ordered the Howard Johnson hotel closed unless a long list of fire code violations is addressed. (CBC)A Winnipeg hotel was shut down for several violations on Friday, forcing into the street about 50 people who live there on a long-term basis.

Social service agencies were left scrambling to help the people who live at the Howard Johnson Hotel on Ellice Avenue find new shelter.

"We're kind of on the spot. We've got staff here … to work with anybody that might not have a place to go," said Ron May, area director of family services for the St. James-Assiniboia South region.

Many people come to Winnipeg from northern Manitoba communities for medical appointments and stay long term at the bargain hotel, living on shoestring budgets.

Some of the people were found rooms in other hotels, while a few more have been moved to social housing units in the city.

Missing fire extinguishers, broken emergency doors and obstacles near exits are among issues at the Howard Johnson Hotel. (CBC)Earlier this week, the City of Winnipeg ordered it closed because of a long list of violations, including missing fire extinguishers, cracked water boilers, bedbugs, missing sinks, broken emergency doors and obstacles around exits.

The fire department posted a four-page notice on the front door of the hotel, stating the building had to be vacated by Friday at 11 a.m.

On Thursday afternoon, the city granted an extension until Tuesday. But on Friday, the extension was rescinded and the closure was ordered immediately after authorities toured the building and decided it was not safe enough to allow people to stay through the weekend.

According to city officials, there is no fire plan at the hotel and the staff isn't trained for emergencies.

Licence could be pulled

The hotel's Vancouver-based owner, David Grewal, has also been notified by the parent company that he is in danger of losing the corporate licence for the brand.

Grewal has not returned phone calls requesting comment.

Glen Blake, president of Howard Johnson Canada (HJC), told CBC News on Friday that the hotel has been given a deadline of Tuesday to get up to code. Howard Johnson, with more than 60 hotels in Canada, has never before had to pull a Canadian franchisee's licence, Blake said.

He noted the property is considered by HJC to be in default of its quality assurance.

Even before the city ordered the closure on Friday, Blake said HJC locked the hotel's reservation system, making it impossible to book a room there.