CLBC concerns
Sunshine Coast-Powell River MLA Nicholas Simons introduced a motion in the provincial legislature on Monday, October 17, calling for a halt to group home closures.
The motion is in response to cuts made by Community Living BC (CLBC) to services and the closure of 65 group homes throughout BC in an effort to make up a financial shortfall, according to Simons.
Simons said that the Liberal government is conducting an internal review but he believes only an external review is appropriate.
A moratorium on group home closures will allow time for a review, said Simons, and to deal with the controversy and unanswered questions that surround the closures. CLBC revealed recently that there are 751 adults on a waiting list for services, along with 2,100 people already receiving services who are waiting for additional service. The recent increase of $8.9 million to CLBC’s budget was largely viewed as inadequate to fix the state of the agency.
Under the title of a service redesign, CLBC has been reassessing clients from around the province living in group homes. Simons believes CLBC is using this method to lower client’s disability ratings in order to justify moving them from group homes to home share situations and to close a number a group homes.
“[CLBC] was essentially pushed for by families,” said Simons, “and families have been betrayed by what it has become: a very, very strict, bureaucratic system that has cut families out of the process entirely.”
Simons alluded to another group home in Powell River that is slated for closure, but he did not have any further details. A group home on Joyce Avenue that was to be closed in 2010 remained open after families of the clients living in the home went to the media and Simons.
While Simons’ motion will go no further he said the conversation it sparked has been significant.
“I think it’s a good sign that British Columbians care about people with developmental disabilities and do not want to see them re-institutionalized or re-isolated,” said Simons, “which I fear is a potential consequence of the current service delivery system.”
