The collective impact of group home programs operated by several ministries is feit locally.
With each mi:dsuy acting independently, there can be overlap in the search for facitides, in
locational choices and neighbourhood impact. Therefore, co-ordination among miniszes and
with British Columbia Housing and Management Commission would be beneficial.

The GVRD Social Issues Committee offer: i forum for GVRD municipalities to discuss common
issues about group homes, to act as a resource to one another and to co-ordinate their efforts.
Two other groups which also have an interest in this issue of group homes are the UBCM and
the community care facilities licensing staff of local GVRD municipalities. The UBCM has
discussed the group home issue a number of times as a result of similar concerns expressed by
its members. Local community care licensing staff are actively involved in the group home
approval process. Both groups could provide valuable input to discussions on issues relating to
group homes.

CONCLUSION
The Social Issues Committee has prepared an inve.itory of licensed group homes in the GVRD.

A preliminary analysis of the number of facilities, beds, nature of clients and geographical
distribution has bee undertaken.

The Committee hzs also identified elements of a community education program which could be
developed in co-operation with local communities.

The Social Zssues Committee is recommending that the Provincial Government take on the
inventory and eapand it to include unlicensed facilities, as well as undertake the community
education program. A pilot community education project could be considered.

“he Social Issues Committee offers to serve as a resource group to provincial s2ff and
encourages consultation with both the UBCM ard local GVRD community care ‘cilities
licensing staff.