Exploring reduction of substance use - or just finding a way around the RTA?
Atira tries to re-brand with so-called ‘supports’ and no commitment to recovery
City of Vancouver planners love to explore. But, it’s already known that “to explore, is to ignore,” and readers are free to “explore” the past writings on the West 8th and Arbutus public hearing process in this blog.
Read the staff report for the Jan 18, 2023 City of Vancouver Council meeting and submit comments to Council.
What is the purpose of this particular project?
SRO Upgrade Grant to Atira Women’s Resource Society and Single Room Accommodation (SRA) Conversion Permit to Porte Communities for 208 East Georgia Street (Aa y̓ in, formerly the London Hotel)
Does it provide substance abuse treatment for indigenous people?
No, it’s not a treatment centre or a recovery house. People can think about quitting, but still use substances in the vicinity of someone that would like to be abstinent. There is no requirement to participate in any programming, which so far is a three times per week Smart Steps (a version of AA with no acknowledgement of a higher power or the need for atonement).
This building is being called a transitional house, but it is our opinion that this term is being used to avoid renters’ rights under the Residential Tenancy Act.
The Atira building is transitional in that length of stay is expected to be for two years.
A transitional house is supposed to provide sober living support after exiting treatment, but before living independently in the community. This is not even a pre-treatment house for people wanting support before entering treatment.
This is what transitional housing is supposed to look like:
To learn more about recovery-oriented housing, read the next article on Alberta’s Earl Thiessen and Oxford House.
Is this rebranding for Atira?
It could be. Atira is known for a variety of low barrier housing types, whether it’s women-led families focused or the worst, unmaintained Downtown Eastside SRO buildings, which have been frequent fodder for The Tyee.
Renovations will attract a better quality tenant to Atira, and overall improve its image.
The building’s physical challenges have been exacerbated by the fact that many of the previous tenants faced multiple, complex health needs (page 4).
All partners are confident that following the renovations, Aay̓ in will be able to attract a more stable group of residents. Over the last decade, as the building condition deteriorated, only those who could not get housing elsewhere would accept a room at Aay̓ in, which created a tenant population that was difficult to manage and adequately support (page 5).
Being a transitional house and not a building covered by the Residential Tenancy Act, building access to guests can be restricted:
Atira has an extensive dispute mechanism for building residents that may extend all the way up to CEO Janice Abbott (pages 18-21), if she has time, with managing over 3,600 housing units, with an additional 426 units under development (page 4).
Will this project maintain a significant Heritage Class building?
No, this is a Heritage Level C building that consists of three contiguous buildings built between 1893 and 1910. The old RCMP building on the Heather Lands is a Level A, but only Councillor Hardwick from last term’s Council was interested in preserving it.
Who benefits from this building?
Up to 71 people at any time can have an SRO room here, with shared kitchen and laundry services, at shelter rate ($375/month) for the duration of a 10 year contract between Porte Communities and Atira. Residents are expected to find other housing in two years’ time.
It is interesting that Porte Communities, the owner of the SRO at 208 East Georgia Street, has not maintained the building since its purchase in 2007.
Porte Communities is benefiting from this $2,836,800 renovation on a building worth $681,000 plus future $3,195,000 in rent collection over the next 10 years.
Porte Communities is a local property development success story, a second generation family business. From their website, Porte has 45 staff, 24 commercial properties, 13 rental buildings and one condo building with units for sale. There is no mention of an SRO portfolio.
This business should be able to maintain its building. Instead Porte is trying to leverage the building 10:1 against $2.8M project estimate + $3.195M rent for the next 10 years, a great majority of this public money.
By looking at the financing of this proposal, it pays to be the CEO of Atira and married to the former CEO of BC Housing, while at the same time being a board member of CMHC.
Who is overseeing and invoicing for the renovation services? It is not disclosed.
This project has a lot of unanswered questions:
Why isn’t there a serious recovery-oriented partner steering this project?
Why there are no treatment outcome objectives?
Why are there no documented consultations with experts in the recovery field?
Why isn’t there any income-based financial responsibility for real estate development companies for management of their properties?
Is there a way for the City of Vancouver to recoup the requested money from the building owner when the building is sold?
Wouldn’t it be cheaper and faster to tear this down and put a temporary modular building instead, at least they are apartments and not SRO rooms with shared washrooms?
How much does Atira invoice for its property management services and consulting with Atira Women’s Resource Society?
Does Porte Communities have further financial benefits outside of the arrangement stated in the report?
Will this project be used as “template” for other privately-owned SRO renovations?
This is not a model for recovery.
Mayor and City Councillors, please think of how to best serve the residents of Vancouver.
Look where and how the money is being spent - all of it - and expect solid health outcome measures to be reported back.
This “draft” proposal needs more work.
