A 91原创 City housing complex that was originally built to accommodate seniors and people with disabilities has become home to some mentally ill people and recovering addicts who act out and frighten the other residents, a meeting of the 91原创 Seniors Community Action Table (LSCAT) was told Wednesday.
鈥淰ery young, hard-to-house young males, who are severely mentally ill鈥� is how one resident, who asked not to be named, described the situation involving mental health and addictions patients whose rent is paid by health authorities.
Police often have to be called to deal with unruly behavior, but because case workers get involved, the tenants don鈥檛 get evicted, the renter said.
鈥淎 lot of our seniors have moved out.鈥�
Another resident, who also asked for anonymity, said the housing complex is being used to provide homes to people that other landlords have refused.
鈥淭hey鈥檙e bringing in mentally challenged people even as we speak,鈥� the tenant said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been going on for years.鈥�
The tenants said their complaints have resulted in the housing managers hiring a single night-time security guard, a move one dismissed as 鈥渢otally inadequate.鈥�
They were among a small group of residents from the seven buildings operated by the 91原创 Lions Senior Citizens Housing Society () who attended the action table meeting at the 91原创 Senior Resources Society centre to hear a report on the situation by the chair of the action table housing committee, Kiernan Hillan.
Hillan and action table member Leslie Gaudette said a Jan. 17 meeting with all involved, including the management of the complex, the different aid agencies and tenants, did made some progress, but finding a quick solution was unlikely.
鈥淭he complexity of the situation became evident (at the Jan. 17 meeting),鈥� Hillan said.
鈥淭hat was the first time representatives of all of the agencies were in the same room, which was kind of surprising.鈥�
Gaudette said tenants presented a proposal at the meeting that she called 鈥渧ery solid鈥� without going into detail.
Hillan said the proposal referred to 鈥渟afety-based鈥� solutions.
The talks involving the various groups have been 鈥渆xtremely positive鈥� since the action table reached out in December, Gaudette said.
鈥淧eople have different levels of understanding, but they know that something needs to be done,鈥� she said.
鈥淭here has been a lot of stuff happening in a very short time,鈥� Hillan said.
Hillan said he hopes the issue can be resolved 鈥渞elatively quickly (but) it may require some patience.鈥�
Some of the residents expressed frustration at that, saying they have been dealing with problems of bad behaviour far too long.
鈥淥ur patience is wearing a little thin,鈥� one said.
The residents reported incidents of loud outbursts in common area and one incident where a patient reportedly kicked washing machine while a senior was trying to do laundry.
鈥淢y building is probably the most attended (by police) in 91原创 City,鈥� one said.
Gaudette said it appeared the different agencies were operating in isolation, unaware of the impact their activity can have on other stakeholders.
She said the problem at the Lions is the result of increased demand for social housing at a time when hardly any new stock is being built.
鈥淵ou have a growing population with growing needs and nowhere to go,鈥� Gaudette said.
Another action-table-brokered stakeholders meeting is expected in about two weeks. Hillan said he hopes more tenants will take part.
The 91原创 Lions Senior Citizens Housing Society (LLSCHS) did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the Times.
The action table is a group of community members, service organizations and individuals that has the stated goal of facilitating 鈥渟eniors鈥� mobilization, leadership and involvement鈥� in the community and to 鈥渞ecognize and respond to local issue and opportunities.鈥�
dan.ferguson@langleytimes.com
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