Pubdate: Wed, 09 Nov 2005 Source: Vancouver 24hours (CN BC) Copyright: 2005, Canoe Inc Contact: http://vancouver.24hrs.ca/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3837 Author: Sam Cooper, 24 hours DUNBAR RESIDENTS PEEVED AT CITY HALL Dunbar residents are telling city councillors not to even think about putting supportive housing for drug addicts in their community. Following the city's purchase of land at Dunbar and 16th for $3.3 million this year, Vancouver housing planner, Rob Whitlock, told members of the Dunbar Resident's Association (DRA) "chances are very good" the site could be used to house and treat low income people with drug addictions or mental illnesses. Whitlock said he made the comment because council asked his department to look at spreading drug treatment services throughout the city, instead of only concentrating them in the Downtown Eastside. If the supportive housing project goes forward in Dunbar, it could include 25 family units, or 50 singles units, or 35 seniors units, says Whitlock. "We are doing a study with Vancouver Coastal Health Authority to look at where the needs are in the city, and if it concludes there is a need (for supportive housing) there, we would recommend it to council," Whitlock said. "The study will finish in spring 2006." DRA vice-president Linda MacAdam said 300 turned out in Dunbar Monday night to grill incumbent councillors on their plans for the parcel of land. "The residents of Dunbar feel the city council is just steam rolling their agenda into our neighbourhood," MacAdam said. "The politicians are dancing around saying we've bought it and not decided what to do yet." MacAdam said the community is concerned about area children being exposed to addicts with mental illnesses and condo developers are worried about difficulty selling units already being built in the area. Asked if the DRA's concerns are valid, Whitlock said, "The experience with the triage center at 39th and Fraser indicated no evidence of difficulties with supportive housing." But DRA president Mike Andruff said his group will punish current councillors for their handling of the issue. "We are saying don't vote for the incumbents, vote for independents who support proper civic advocacy," Andruff said. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek