GROUP HOMES IN GROUP HOMES IN RICHMOND, BCRICHMOND, BC

David W. EdgingtonDavid W. Edgington

Department of GeographyDepartment of Geography

University of British ColumbiaUniversity of British Columbia

1)1) Research ObjectivesResearch Objectives

2)2) Literature ReviewLiterature Review

3)3) The Group Homes Task The Group Homes Task ForceForce

4)4) ConclusionsConclusions

EthnoburbsEthnoburbs

Immigrants residents are more actively Immigrants residents are more actively involved in mainstream politics and involved in mainstream politics and community affairs than the residents of community affairs than the residents of ghettos and enclavesghettos and enclaves

The `ethnoburb’ model challenges the The `ethnoburb’ model challenges the dominant view that suburban assimilation is dominant view that suburban assimilation is inevitable and the best solution for ethnic inevitable and the best solution for ethnic minorities [Wei Li, 2006 “minorities [Wei Li, 2006 “From Enclave to From Enclave to EthnoburbEthnoburb”, forthcoming]”, forthcoming]

Multicultural Planning:Multicultural Planning: ““For planners, the practical imperative is no For planners, the practical imperative is no

longer whether planning ought to be longer whether planning ought to be culturally sensitive, but how? culturally sensitive, but how?

How do planners accommodate one group’s How do planners accommodate one group’s view of the physical environment when it view of the physical environment when it conflicts with that of another group?conflicts with that of another group?

More importantly, the question remains More importantly, the question remains whether….planning can be sensitive to whether….planning can be sensitive to diverse cultures and yet maintain a unified diverse cultures and yet maintain a unified public realm?public realm?

[Michael Burayidi, “[Michael Burayidi, “Urban Planning in a Urban Planning in a Multicultural SocietyMulticultural Society”, 2000]”, 2000]

Group Homes:Group Homes:

Offer an important service to substance Offer an important service to substance dependent individuals and others needing dependent individuals and others needing special carespecial care

Chinese traditional attitudes to “drug Chinese traditional attitudes to “drug addicts”addicts”

Canadian society and inclusivenessCanadian society and inclusiveness

Maps of RichmondMaps of Richmond

GROUP HOMES IN RICHMOND: IGROUP HOMES IN RICHMOND: I

““Turning Point” >>>>>> Setting up the Task Turning Point” >>>>>> Setting up the Task ForceForce

1990-91 “Adam’s Place”, a group home for male 1990-91 “Adam’s Place”, a group home for male recovery from drug and alcohol addictionrecovery from drug and alcohol addiction

1999 forced to relocate; chose a 6,000 sq ft house 1999 forced to relocate; chose a 6,000 sq ft house in up-scale Odlin Road, Richmond; “Turning Point in up-scale Odlin Road, Richmond; “Turning Point Recovery Home” (10 beds)Recovery Home” (10 beds)

seeks approval from Vancouver/Richmond Health seeks approval from Vancouver/Richmond Health Board and Richmond City CouncilBoard and Richmond City Council

pickets and public protests by local residents, pickets and public protests by local residents, mainly members of the Chinese communitymainly members of the Chinese community

GROUP HOMES IN RICHMOND: IGROUP HOMES IN RICHMOND: I

March 2001. Planning Committee of Councl March 2001. Planning Committee of Councl considers a “made-in-Richmond” by-law to allow 7-considers a “made-in-Richmond” by-law to allow 7-10 person group homes without a public hearing 10 person group homes without a public hearing process process

2-day hearing: ’00 of residents turn out; of those 2-day hearing: ’00 of residents turn out; of those who spoke, the overwhelming majority felt they who spoke, the overwhelming majority felt they wanted a say on where the group homes should be wanted a say on where the group homes should be allowed to set up (preferably outside residential allowed to set up (preferably outside residential neighbourhoods) and how they should be runneighbourhoods) and how they should be run

by-law or not?? (drug rehabilitation by-law or not?? (drug rehabilitation vsvs battered battered womens’ shelters, hospice homes, etc)womens’ shelters, hospice homes, etc)

““INCLUSION OR EXCLUSION”INCLUSION OR EXCLUSION” Against:Against:

– ““It is unfair to the children of Richmond since It is unfair to the children of Richmond since they will be exposed to foreseeable danger”, they will be exposed to foreseeable danger”, said Philip Tang, one of the speakers on said Philip Tang, one of the speakers on Tuesday.Tuesday.

– ““We’re concerned about the drug dealers We’re concerned about the drug dealers coming into our area”, said Julie Lin. “How can coming into our area”, said Julie Lin. “How can we protect our children? Our families?”we protect our children? Our families?”

– ““They should move out of residential areas”, They should move out of residential areas”, said Julie’s father, Simon Lin. “They can be set said Julie’s father, Simon Lin. “They can be set up in restricted areas where they are not up in restricted areas where they are not harmful”harmful”

(quotes from the (quotes from the Richmond NewsRichmond News, 11 March 2001), 11 March 2001)

““INCLUSION OR EXCLUSION”INCLUSION OR EXCLUSION”

For:For:

– ““I can tell you, people with mental handicaps, I can tell you, people with mental handicaps, physical handicaps, people who suffer from physical handicaps, people who suffer from drug and alcohol addiction or mental illness, will drug and alcohol addiction or mental illness, will not hurt you or your family, I can say that from not hurt you or your family, I can say that from my own experience,” said Brian Wardley, a my own experience,” said Brian Wardley, a member of the Richmond community health member of the Richmond community health committee.committee.

– ““If those concerned with group homes spent If those concerned with group homes spent some time visiting or volunteering in one, you’ll some time visiting or volunteering in one, you’ll find the (residents) are good human beings, just find the (residents) are good human beings, just like you and me”, Wardley said.like you and me”, Wardley said.

(quotes from the (quotes from the Richmond NewsRichmond News, 11 March 2001), 11 March 2001)

GROUP HOMES IN RICHMOND: IIGROUP HOMES IN RICHMOND: II

The Task ForceThe Task Force

March 2001: Group Homes Task Force AppointedMarch 2001: Group Homes Task Force Appointed

Composition:Composition:– 3 members, Association of Richmond 3 members, Association of Richmond

HomeownersHomeowners– 2 members, Richmond Community Services 2 members, Richmond Community Services

Advisory CouncilAdvisory Council– 1 member, Vancouver/Richmond Health Board1 member, Vancouver/Richmond Health Board– 4 members, chosen at random from the 4 members, chosen at random from the

ratepayers listratepayers list

GROUP HOMES IN RICHMOND: IIGROUP HOMES IN RICHMOND: II

14 x meetings held between May – October, 200114 x meetings held between May – October, 2001

consultants appointed by city planning staff consultants appointed by city planning staff (including Chinese media PR consultant)(including Chinese media PR consultant)

$100,000 budget$100,000 budget

GROUP HOMES IN RICHMOND: IIGROUP HOMES IN RICHMOND: II

Task Force heard presentations from Group Home Task Force heard presentations from Group Home operators and residents, social planners, operators and residents, social planners, neighbours of “Turning Point”neighbours of “Turning Point”

it found that 32 residential groups were already it found that 32 residential groups were already set up in the City (but that only 1 involved set up in the City (but that only 1 involved drug/alcohol recovery)drug/alcohol recovery)

found out that HK and China still have a punitive found out that HK and China still have a punitive model of addressing drug addiction, rather than model of addressing drug addiction, rather than one focused on rehabilitation and education one focused on rehabilitation and education

GROUP HOMES IN RICHMOND: GROUP HOMES IN RICHMOND: IIIIII

PoliticsPolitics

June 2001. Betrayal!!!June 2001. Betrayal!!!

– John Wong [Association of Richmond Homeowners] John Wong [Association of Richmond Homeowners] quits the Task Force in frustration that the group quits the Task Force in frustration that the group was operating on a “city-driven agenda”was operating on a “city-driven agenda”

– 2 weeks later he is back on the Task Force after 2 weeks later he is back on the Task Force after the City’s Policy Planner [T. Crowe] is “re-the City’s Policy Planner [T. Crowe] is “re-assigned” and the City’s Urban Development assigned” and the City’s Urban Development Manager [D. McCllelan] steps down as Task Force Manager [D. McCllelan] steps down as Task Force Chair.Chair.

GROUP HOMES IN RICHMOND: GROUP HOMES IN RICHMOND: IIIIII

October 2001. City By-election (issues are: Group October 2001. City By-election (issues are: Group Homes; Traffic; and Gambling)Homes; Traffic; and Gambling)– eight Chinese Canadians out of 29 hopefuls on the eight Chinese Canadians out of 29 hopefuls on the

election ballotelection ballot

– three run under a new “Richmond Canadian Voters three run under a new “Richmond Canadian Voters (RCV) Party(RCV) Party

– none with a Chinese name or background was successful none with a Chinese name or background was successful in landing a seat on councilin landing a seat on council

– 33.39% of Chinese-Canadian voters cast a ballot in the 33.39% of Chinese-Canadian voters cast a ballot in the by-election, by-election,

– c.f. 32.07% for the population-at-large [Civic Education c.f. 32.07% for the population-at-large [Civic Education Society]Society]

2001 Civic By-election 2001 Civic By-election

GROUP HOMES IN RICHMOND: GROUP HOMES IN RICHMOND: IVIV

The End?The End?

September 2001. Information brochure produced September 2001. Information brochure produced by Task Force/City Staff/Consultant - bilingual by Task Force/City Staff/Consultant - bilingual version tooversion too

6 x community meetings6 x community meetings

GROUP HOMES IN RICHMOND: GROUP HOMES IN RICHMOND: IVIV

October 2001. Final Report and October 2001. Final Report and Recommendations given to CouncilRecommendations given to Council

– Group Homes (7-10 bed facility) be allowed `as Group Homes (7-10 bed facility) be allowed `as of right’ in residential areas, but with of right’ in residential areas, but with notification for new applications to neighbours notification for new applications to neighbours within five-house radiuswithin five-house radius

– Overall process managed by the City and Overall process managed by the City and Richmond Health ServicesRichmond Health Services

– Recommends establishment of a Cultural Recommends establishment of a Cultural Relations Advisory CommitteeRelations Advisory Committee

– John Wong refuses to “sign-off”John Wong refuses to “sign-off”

GROUP HOMES IN RICHMOND: GROUP HOMES IN RICHMOND: IVIV

November 2001. Council wants more control over November 2001. Council wants more control over drug/alcohol recovery homes and seeks legal drug/alcohol recovery homes and seeks legal adviceadvice

December 2001. BC Provincial Government December 2001. BC Provincial Government changes “Community Care Act” to withdraw changes “Community Care Act” to withdraw licensing requirement from 7-10 bed facilitieslicensing requirement from 7-10 bed facilities

Therefore no longer any requirement for Group Therefore no longer any requirement for Group Homes (7-10 bed facility) to be provincially (or Homes (7-10 bed facility) to be provincially (or municipally) licensedmunicipally) licensed

…………..“stalemate”..“stalemate”

CONCLUSIONSCONCLUSIONS

Richmond City Council took a Richmond City Council took a leadership roleleadership role

Increasing Chinese/HK political Increasing Chinese/HK political participationparticipation

What prospects for municipal What prospects for municipal `learning’?`learning’?

Thank You!Thank You!