Change Is Slow A Year After Fatal Fire Prompts Concern Over Unregulated Group Homes
One year after a fatal fire highlighted the plight of those living in unregulated group homes, local officials admit change is slow.
A fire broke out on November 3rd, 2014 inside a building later condemned as an illegal group home operated by Keith Charles of the group People Helping People on Oxford Street East near Fanshawe College.
One male tenant perished in the blaze and roughly two dozen others were left homeless.
Spokesperson for the Canadian Mental Health Association Kristy Cairns tells AM980 there has been some change in the last year.
“Since that time the city has pulled together some stakeholders and there has been some meetings and discussions around what we can be doing together to help to make sure people aren’t falling through the cracks.”
Cairns adds that the provincial government has announced plans to invest more in supportive housing as part of the Mental Health and Addictions Strategy and that the South West Local Health Integration Network, or LHIN, has recommended staffing and rent subsidy increases to help address some of the waitlist for supportive housing.
“We’re hoping to see that those funds flow this year so I think that’s really great progress.”
In the aftermath of the fatal fire, city council called on staff to report back with recommendation on how to address the issue of unregulated housing.
That report was expected this fall but likely won’t be released until next year.
“I certainly understand the frustration of the pace of change from a public perspective standard,” says Councillor Josh Morgan.
“That doesn’t mean actions weren’t taken immediately. Our chief bylaw officer immediately ramped up the inspections under the rules he currently had available. There was immediately better coordination between fire, bylaw, and housing as well as the other agencies.”
Morgan adds that ensuring that people have safe and adequate housing requires significant resources and co-ordination across agencies and governments and will take some time to properly address.
