PLAN TO STOP 'KILLING CITY NEIGHBOURHOODS'

The City of Abbotsford has unveiled its plan to target unlicensed
recovery houses, a change that one councillor hopes will stop
"killing neighbourhoods in our community."

According to the city, 30 to 40 "supportive recovery homes" currently
exist in Abbotsford but "vary considerably" in terms of their quality.

As a result, the city examined ways to regulate both future and
existing homes, and those findings were unveiled at council's
executive committee meeting on Monday afternoon.

Coun. Bruce Beck said that, since council decided not to implement a
recovery home initiative three years ago, the number of properties has tripled.

"Doing nothing is no longer an option . . . the absence of a policy
is killing neighbourhoods in our community," he said, describing the
proposed changes as a "radical change."

Coun. John Smith said the city's plan is a "major initiative" with
two objectives.

The first goal, he explained, would be aimed at "bringing order" to
the current situation, while the second would regulate future operations.

"If we don't go along with this, we will be left to enforce our city
bylaws and close all 35 homes and that would put 400 people on the
street," said Smith, who believes some of the existing poorer homes
may close as a result of the crackdown.

"We have got to bring order to what is presently a chaotic situation.
I think it will work and I think it will bring a lot more assurances
to neighbourhoods."

In 2001, the provincial Community Care and Assisted Living Act made a
distinction between drug and alcohol treatment facilities, and those
that offered supportive living environments for recovering addicts
but without treatment.

While treatment facilities are still licensed under the act,
supportive recovery homes are exempt if they do not offer more than
two prescribed services.

According to the city, the change in provincial rules led to a
"proliferation" of unlicensed facilities opening in Abbotsford and
other communities.

Some of the homes are faith-based and have church links, while some
require residents to follow a 12-step program of addiction counselling.

"But the rigour of the recovery programs, the number and
qualifications of staff, and the quality of the operations appear to
vary considerably," according to a city staff report.

"It appears that some operations provide an excellent service to a
vulnerable clientele and are a credit to the community. Other
operations generate complaints from their neighbours, police service
calls and allegations of fraud from their residents."

The proposed city regulations focus on location, size, public safety
and neighbourhood compatibility.

They include requiring an operator to enter into a housing agreement
with the city, making sure any future homes are at least 200 metres
from an existing facility or school, and ensuring each home has a
business license that would incorporate annual city inspections.

A neighbourhood meeting would be required before a new home could open.

Other proposals include:

- - Making sure residence staff are on-site 24 hours a day.

- - Creating a roster of all operators, residents and staff and keeping
it on site.

- - Banning alcohol or illicit drugs on the premises, and creating a
policy prohibiting such substances.

- - Ensuring a "resident recovery program" is filed with the city.

- - Creating an exit plan for residents who are evicted, that would
include the reimbursing of rent payments.

- - Establishing policies that relate to curfews and overnight visitors.

- - Only allowing two residents per bedroom, up to maximum of 10
residents per house.

- - Properly maintaining a building and meeting city parking standards.

Before being implemented, the new recovery house proposals will go to
a public hearing. The city may also organize one or more community
information meetings before that time.