By Teena Monteleone

Resistant neighbours question proposed care home

Feb 1, 2017 | 5:44 AM

It hasn’t appeared in front of council, but the application for a residential care home in the East Hill is garnering a lot of attention from resistant neighbours.

The Native Co-ordinating Council (NCC) is attempting to purchase 10 Hadley Rd. with funding available from the Ministry of Social Services. It will house five children between the ages of 9 and 12 and will be staffed around the clock. The goal is to provide a safe, home-like environment for children whose parents are struggling with day-to-day living for various reasons. Lynda Douglas, one of the directors of the NCC, said the children who will live in the home are not delinquents.

“The children that will be coming to this new home are not suitable for other homes in the city and that is why the department of social services has asked us to set up a new home. They are apprehended due to neglect and safety reasons….simple as that,” Douglas said.

The NCC operates four other homes within the city including Sundance Haven on First Ave. E. and Children’s Haven, which has been in operation for almost 27 years. Douglas said the house they would like to purchase on Hadley Rd. meets the agency’s needs. Unlike other homes the NCC have looked at, this one won’t require renovations. It has the proper sight lines so employees can keep an eye on the children at all times. There is a two car garage so parking won’t become an issue and Douglas said traffic will be minimal. 

“There is one group van we use to transport kids to school and extra-curricular activities….and two vehicles that belong to our staff,” she said. “There is no visitation from family to the home.”

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Douglas believed people have the wrong idea about the home.

She added, “This is a residential care home. Foster families could move in there with a number of kids and they don’t have to go through the rigors that we do. We want children to grow up to be respectful citizens and all we’re trying to do is give them a chance.”

The NCC sent out a letter to neighbours advising them of their intention. Ward 5 city councillor Dennis Ogrodnick said the response to the proposed care home has been ‘very negative’ so far. He added residents have told him they are worried about safety, parking, extra traffic and their property values.

“They want more information about what exactly is being proposed. How many other houses do they operate? Has there been any problems in those neighbourhoods?” Ogrodnick clarified.

Ogrodnick said some reluctant neighbours question why the Native Coordinating Council, which is a non-profit organization, would spend so much money on a home with high property taxes. The current listing price of 10 Hadley Rd. is $479,900 with annual property taxes of $4,647.

According to Ogrodnick, a number of residents are planning to protest the application when it is presented to city council on Feb. 13. Until then, he plans to knock on doors within his ward to gather more input from residents.

“If the response is overwhelmingly in favour, I will support it. If not, then I will vote no,” he said. “My job is to represent the residents on all concerns and that is what I will do.”

A Prince Albert realtor said in his experience, group or care homes have not affected the re-sale value of a house or those nearby.

Jesse Honch, who is not selling the home, indicated, “There may be some buyer reluctance knowing there is a care or group home in the area….but it won’t affect the market value unless a number of neighbours decide to sell as a result of the care home and it causes a saturation in the market forcing prices to fall.”

teena.monteleone@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @TeenaMonteleone