Re: “Safety should be paramount” – Gazette, April 18:
There’s a good chance you’ve heard of St. Albert’s LoSeCa Foundation, which is a non-profit provider of housing and services for people with disabilities. LoSeCa was founded by parents out of a need to provide the services, care and housing their sons and daughters required. There are many organizations like LoSeCa in Alberta, many of which have similar origins. It’s because of these organizations that people with disabilities are able to live fulfilling, inclusive lives in our communities, in big cities and small towns.
One the biggest issues impacting community living and community housing is the implementation of Standard 8 of the PDD Safety Standards. The standard mandates a series of health, fire and safety inspections on individuals’ private homes for a small group of individuals receiving government supports. Well-intentioned with the safety of individuals in mind, the standards have the potential for serious unintended consequences – from the potential loss of housing should landlords not wish to make costly renovations for a small group of people in a tight rental market, to possible human rights issues and the loss of autonomy over one’s home.
I have to take issue with the letter Safety should be paramount penned by James Dawson (Transitions Rehabilitation Society, board president). Mr. Dawson states that the Gazette has limited its fact finding to “a single-source,” LoSeCa executive director Marie Renaud.
If Mr. Dawson is looking for additional sources on this matter, he’ll find no shortage of voices and sources that would support the commentary and advocacy that he seems to take issue with. The Alberta Association of Community Living has taken a formal position against the standard, easily available on its website. The Alberta Council of Disability Services has prepared a policy analysis and summary document laying out issues, concerns and recommendations, which are easily available to an agency board leader. Self-advocates from the Disability Action Hall in Calgary, supported by the Self-Advocacy Federation in Edmonton, recently held a rally at the Alberta Legislature to bring awareness to the issue. The event was well advertised and open to all. I’m sure the attendance of an agency board president would have been appreciated and welcomed.
As Mr. Dawson notes, many agencies have been granted a temporary exemption from the standard, which came into effect on April 1. This likely happened for a number of reasons, not the least of which is strong advocacy by those affected for time to have the public consultation, and impact assessments that seem to have been limited when the standard was developed, and for time to assess and discuss the unintended consequences.
The needs of Albertans with disabilities are well represented by persons with disabilities themselves, supported by the voices of those who dedicate themselves to providing supports and services. Any attempt by Mr. Dawson to draw a line between advocacy and one individual’s attempt to seek public office is disingenuous and ignores the many, many voices that are taking action on this issue today. It’s disappointing to see the work being done by and for people with disabilities downplayed, or disregarded as political grandstanding. Five minutes on Google would show many links, many position statements and many voices speaking strongly on the issue of housing and safety standards for people with disabilities.
Janet Hay, Morinville
