Last night I attended a community meeting at BC Christian Academy in the Lincoln Park area with roughly 200 other residents. The topic was whether or not a drug and alcohol recovery / transition house run by the Hope for Freedom Society should be permitted at the corner of Somerset and Raymond.
As a member of the Tri-Cities Crystal Meth and Tri-Cities Homelessness Task Groups, I have supported the projects of Hope for Freedom and others. These organizations do important work in helping many folks in our community. This recovery or transition house, however, is not one of these good works.
I agree with many of the comments made at the meeting that this is the wrong location for this group home.
The five residents of this house will not have ready access to transit and the services they require. The community will have a house which – if the 6 other houses in the City are an indication – could have up to 12 recovering addicts plus staff living in one home. This is not conducive to recovery nor maintaining the community feel of Lincoln Park.
Bylaws need to be in place and enforced to protect the home owners and to see that recovery houses locate in the proper supportive areas. As it stands now with houses opening up just about anywhere the business operators please, this creates “recovery sprawl”.
By planning properly for these types of group homes we can better serve the clients of these facilities while fostering a sense of community in the neighbourhood. I want to see this happen.
The project as proposed is not illegal. Anyone saying they will stop this house with legislation right now is not being truthful. Future projects, yes, this one no.
That said, should this home violate bylaws, if elected, I will do everything possible to have the home removed.
What can be done now is organizing the community, expressing concern and suggestions to City Hall and working with Hope for Freedom to find a better location for all of their projects. This is what I am doing.
Saying you don’t think this transition house is a good idea, dose not do anything to stop it from going ahead. I live in this neighborhood and the person who is going to get the votes from the 300 or so people at that meeting, is the one who will actually do something to stop it from going ahead.
No vote from me Sir.
You don’t say you will do anything about the transition house, if elected. We residents need somebody who really represents us & fights for safe future for our families & children.
Kelly – thanks for your comment.
I agree, just saying I agree or disagree with something does not make positive change. This is why I spoke with dozens of residents at the meeting, sent emails to City Hall expressing my opposition and suggesting alternatives, left messages with Hope for Freedom offering to assist with developing a strategy for future houses, delivered flyers today informing the Lincoln Park community of the recovery house, etc.
Beyond this one house I am proposing that if elected I will change / develop bylaws which take care of the needs of the recovery home clients while respecting the community at large. This way we are not just addressing the concerns of one off homes but developing a sustainable social plan for the future.
If you have other questions / comments, please let me know.
dave@dave.ca
(604) 418-9177
Wanda – thanks for your comment.
The project as proposed is not illegal. Anyone saying they will stop this house with legislation right now is not being truthful. Future projects, yes, this one no.
That said, should this home violate bylaws, if elected, I will do everything possible to have the home removed.
What can be done now is organizing the community, expressing concern and suggestions to City Hall and working with Hope for Freedom to find a better location for all of their projects. This is what I am doing.
If you have other questions / comments, please let me know.
dave@dave.ca
(604) 418-9177