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Residents oppose group home
School Draw group doesn't want third group home in their area by Jennifer Pritchett
NNSL (July 30/97) - Residents of School Draw Avenue say a third group home in their neighborhood, this one for children taken into the care of social services, is one group home too many.
But a proponent of the home says it has to go somewhere, and it's not threatening anyone by being on School Draw.
Jeff Gardiner presented a 14-name petition to city council Monday opposing plans for a third group home on the street.
"With two group homes already in our area, we have fulfilled our social responsibility," he said.
Gardiner, one of several residents who voiced concerns to councillors, is also worried about offenders and victims being housed in the same neighborhood.
The area's existing facilities include an open-custody home for young offenders as well as a psychiatric boarding home.
Andrew Hodgkins, who lives two doors away from one of the group homes, said he will be wedged between two of them if the new one is opened this September as scheduled.
"I'm just concerned about the ... concentration of these type of facilities," he said. "I don't think it adds to the nature of the residential area."
City administrator Doug Lagore said that he isn't aware of a bylaw that governs the population density of group homes in the city.
Stewart Engelberg, who works at the territorial treatment centre on 52nd Avenue, supports the proposed School Draw home. He said people in Yellowknife need more of the services that these facilities can provide.
The treatment centre is operated by Alberta Bosco Homes, the same company proposing the new development on School Draw.
Engelberg said that the new facility will pose no threat to residents who live in the area.
"It will be used primarily by Yellowknife social services to provide temporary respite care for children in need," Engelberg said.
The children who would stay in the proposed home are mostly under the age of 10 and have been removed from their homes by social services.
"The problem is not necessarily the child, but the family," he said. "This doesn't differ much from a foster home. The only difference is that it's agency-based, instead of just a private family."
There are already a number of foster homes on School Draw Avenue, he added.
Council sent the issue back to a committee for further study. It also asked the city's lawyers to determine if councillors Ruth Spence and Merlyn Williams, who live on School Draw Avenue, are in a conflict of interest.
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