THE CORPORATION OF THE . - -_ .
CITY OF PORT COQUITLAM a

REPORT TO COUNCIL JAN 10 4994

B.R. Kirk January 5, 1994
City Administrator GVRD Social Issues Subcommittee

Carlos Felip
Director of Planning

"Group Homes in Greater Vancouver" — A Paper
Prepared By the GVRD Social Issues Subcommittee
Planning and Development Committee -— January 4, 1994

RECOMPIXNDATION:

That the Province be informed that the City of Port Coquitlam supports the
position of the Social Issues Subcommittee in its paper, "Croup Homes in
Greater Vancouver", provided that:

1. The Province take a coordinated approach to the planning and
establishment of group homes and maintain communication with
municipalities;

Any wommunity Education Program that is developed should be financed
and operated by the Province, and kept simple;

The Province ensures that ail municipalities assume a fair share of
group home facilities; and

The Province provide municipalities with necessary funding for the

establishment of services and opportunities for persons with special
needs.

BACKGROUND:

The trend of de-institutionalization and the establishment of group homes
within local communities is an issue of concern in the Lower Mainland. This
continued downisading of Provincial responsibilities means that communities
such as Port Coquitlam will have to respond to neighbourhood concerns
regarding group homes and assist in providing facilities and services for
group home cesidents.

The GVRD Social Issues Subcommittee recently prepareé a report entitled
"Group Homes in Greater Vancouver" to identify the number of facilities within
the Lower Mainland and to identify weaknesses in communication between local
and senior levels of government. The repost is attached as Appendix I.

The GVRD Board has referred the report to member municipalities, inviting
them to review the report and forward comments directly to the Province.

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