Time for Fine Folks in Dunbar to Take One for Team

To the editor:

Re: "And then there were three," Nov. 13.

When the discussion arose last winter regarding the proposed Triage
dual-diagnosis residence on Fraser Street (for recovering drug addicts
with mental illness) I looked into the placement of special needs
residence facilities across Vancouver. A city council member and city
staffer had informed me that, "It is fair to say that generally these
uses are scattered across the city, with exception of the southwest."
I referred to the map provided and my counting contradicted such a
claim.

Supported housing east of Main Street is almost double of that west of
Main (100 out of a total 155 facilities). This includes all types of
residences, whether it's for seniors, low-income, mental health or
drug and alcohol rehabilitation. According to my count, Fraser Street
accommodates a whopping 12 per cent of all the city's mental health
residences.

That's why I was so intrigued when I saw the news story about the
proposed supported housing in Dunbar. When plans for Triage on Fraser
were unleashed there was massive local opposition. Residents were
treated to a few huge and colourful public meetings and one public
hearing. After this process council unanimously ignored the residents
and adopted the plan designed and recommended by city staff (albeit
with a tiny tweak or two).

The residents were called NIMBYs by the mayor and scolded for not
doing their part for the poor folks who need help and for the Four
Pillars plan in general. Obviously it was a done deal after all, in
spite of what Coun. Anne Roberts said at the public meeting.

Let's just hope that the fine folks in Dunbar are ready to do their
part for the team. It must be difficult for them to discover that
their community might have to help shoulder a small portion of the
social burden that's been foisted upon the East Side for decades. (We
were, after all, "educated" that the folks for the dual-diagnosis
place on Fraser would come from both the poor and wealthy areas of
town.) It must be excruciating to face the notion that Vancouver's
Special Zone for all things yucky (a.k.a. the East Side), might not
always be forced to do the heavy lifting and that the load must be
shared.

We need drug and alcohol treatment and supported housing desperately
in this city. All progress in dealing with lost lives and street crime
relies upon it. Even after the fiasco of the way the Triage centre at
Fraser was pushed through, I am in favour of it. The East Side has
traditionally been forced to accommodate any and all manner of
unattractive projects for Vancouver while the more well-heeled areas
west of Main are exempt. That the city has bought the property on
Dunbar may address this, but I'm not holding my breath. I'll be
interested to see how much resolve a new city council will have to put
anything on Dunbar other than what the privileged and insulated
residents there decide on. Dual-diagnosis residence? Snowballs in hell
would fare better. Drug and alcohol rehab centre? Pigs will fly first.
A nice, quiet subsidized housing project for local seniors who'd
rather not move out to the suburbs? Aaaah. That sounds nice.

Tim Everett,
Vancouver