US EditionSupportive housing operators call for weapons ban and changes to the Residential Tenancy Act
- On April 26, authorities discovered the body of a young father inside a supportive housing apartment managed by Pacifica Housing on Gorge Road East, with the case classified as a suspected homicide.
- This incident highlights that the Residential Tenancy Act restricts housing providers and law enforcement from promptly removing weapons or unwanted visitors until it is too late.
- Pacifica Housing, managing about 270 units in Victoria, and a coalition of 20 supportive housing providers argue that recent act changes treat them as typical landlords but fail to address safety risks to staff and residents.
- Carolina Ibarra said, "I want to be clear, I really don't want to be here today," stressing that safety concerns led them to seek action, but an arbitrator ruled that finding a firearm is not severe enough to bypass the act’s notification period.
- The coalition is advocating for supportive housing to be excluded under the Residential Tenancy Act and for the development of a legislative framework that reflects the nature of the work while safeguarding both residents and staff across the province.
15 Articles
15 Articles
Weapons and violence inside supportive housing buildings a concern for providers
A group of non-profit housing providers is raising the alarm about violence and weapons inside supportive housing buildings — and they say removing the buildings from the Residential Tenancy Act would help keep staff and residents safe.
Supportive housing providers call for weapons ban
Police tape and investigators no longer remain at the supportive housing building in Victoria where a fire broke out and a body was found by responding firefighters last week. On April 26, fire fighters were called to a fire in a unit of the Waterview Apartments supportive housing project on Gorge Road East last week, where they discovered a man’s body inside. Family members confirmed it was 34-year old Victoria resident Keith Scott.The Vancouve…
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