PROPOSED REHAB HOUSING CENTRE DIVIDES COMMUNITY RESIDENTS

VANCOUVER - A proposed housing facility for people suffering from both
mental-health and substance-abuse problems will be a danger to the
community, area residents said at a heated public meeting Monday night.

"I'm against it, because [the residents of the facility] are going to
be adding to the crime in the area," said Leonard Miller, a retired
police officer who used to walk the beat along Fraser Street and lives
in the area of the proposed 39-unit complex at 5616 Fraser Street.

Miller told the crowd of about 500 people at John Oliver high school
he thinks the area already has a problem with methadone users, who, he
said, break into people's garages to get things they can sell for more
drugs.

"When you put into that a rehab centre with bi-polar people, and
people that are mentally handicapped and [recovering from] drugs, you
are going to be pouring gasoline on a smoldering fire," he told the
second community meeting to discuss the project in as many weeks.

While Miller's sentiment was shared by many during the two-hour
meeting, a handful did stand up in support of the facility intended
for what are called dual diagnosis patients -- people with mental
health problems who also have problems with drugs or alcohol.

"I am in favour of this," said Rose Mawhorter, who lives in the
community and has two young children.

"I don't know what these people are afraid of," she said, looking
towards the crowd. "There are more drugs in this high school than you
would find in this treatment centre."

With growing intensity, the 24-year-old, whose brother is autistic,
continued: "The selfishness and juvenile behaviour in this room is
absolutely appalling."

As she left the auditorium, Mawhorter described the reaction of the
crowd during the evening as a "mob mentality" and said she feels she
speaks for a number of people who were too afraid to stand up and
speak in favour of the project. "I think someone needs to advocate for
these people," she said.

The complex has been planned jointly by the city of Vancouver, Triage
Emergency Services and Vancouver Coastal Health.

Mark Smith, executive director of Triage, told the meeting the
residents of the complex will be in the later stages of recovery and
will have to have been completely sober for at least two months before
gaining entry.

"They will be very stable people," he said. "They will be eager to fit
into this community. They will be highly motivated to continue making
positive changes in their lives."

Insp. Kash Heed, the Vancouver police department's commanding officer
for the area, told the crowd he would "do whatever I can to make it a
success."

Monday's meeting followed a heated gathering on Oct. 4, when more than
1,000 residents came to another community meeting to voice very
similar concerns.

Representatives from city council who were at Monday's meeting said
council will hear more community reaction to the project in a Dec. 7
meeting, but underscored that council will not make the final decision.

That, they said, will be up to the planning officials, who will take
into consideration advice passed on from council.