ARMY'S HOUSE WORRIES PRINCIPAL

The principal of an elementary school says a new Salvation Army
transition house for recovering addicts a half-block from the school
could be traumatic for students.

The Salvation Army Grace Mansion at East Hastings and Princess Avenue
opened last month, although residents will not move in until April.
The Salvation Army purchased the four-storey building, formerly a
seniors residence, earlier this year with the help of a $9-million
grant from the provincial government. It will include 85 transitional
housing units, mainly for men and women who have completed addiction
rehab programs.

James Ion, principal at Strathcona Community School on East Pender,
said many of his 120 students walk by the Grace Mansion on their way
to school and that drug dealers and prostitutes already frequent the
area.

"The addition of 85 recovering alcoholics and addicts to the mix, at
this already volatile corner, can only make the lives of our parents
and families more difficult," he said. "They do not need to view
leaving their homes-and walking to the school and around their
community-a risk-laden and traumatic event."

Ion also opposes the expansion of the nearby Union Gospel Mission and
its proposed 70 transitional housing units and 43 emergency shelter
beds. He questioned the logic of any transitional housing or addiction
recovery centre setting up shop in the drug-infested Downtown
Eastside. "How successful will these people be when placed in such a
challenging and tempting environment?"

Stan Folkins, divisional secretary for the Salvation Army, said the
response from the community has been largely positive, although he has
not contacted Ion.

"I would like to believe that most would feel this is a very positive
step in helping people succeed in life," he said, noting that the
centre will provide help and counselling to recovering addicts. "So
often they find themselves back on the street, so this is the next
step for people who have successfully completed a program."

The concentration of transitional housing in the Downtown Eastside
contradicts the city's Homeless Action Plan, which proposes
decentralizing homeless shelters and addiction services.

But NPA Coun. Peter Ladner, a strong proponent of the plan, said the
city needs to balance its desire to spread out services with the
pressing need for affordable housing.

"Finding transitional housing for people is extremely difficult," he
said, noting that Grace Mansion received the bulk of its funding from
the provincial government. "If an opportunity opens up where somebody
is willing put up the funding, there is such an emergency need that
council does not want to get in the way of that happening."