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Community Care FacilitiesFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs) The following section touches on some background information about Community Care Facilities (SNRFs), and some of the common questions that are raised. Please note that this page is currently being updated to reflect changes in terminology around SNRFs and Community Care Facilities. Some of the material contained herein may be out of date. For up to date information, please contact Carol Ann Young, Senior Social Planner, at 604-871-6042, or carol.ann.young@vancouver.ca. » Where can Community Care Facilities and Group Residences be approved? Where can Community Care Facilities and Group Residences be approved? Vancouver’s Zoning and Development By-law allows Community Care Facilities and Group Residences everywhere in the city except for industrial zones and two historical zones. 62% of all facilities are in single- or two family zones. These buildings are of a size similar to adjacent homes and, in fact, are usually in converted single family dwellings. Many residents do not understand that the City’s zoning regulations permit a variety of building types in all zones. For instance, single family zones can also include schools, churches, golf courses, and social services centres as well as well as Community Care Facilities and Group Residences. Small homes licensed under the Provincial Community Care and Assisted Living Act (Community Care Facility Class A) do not require any special approval process or notification of neighbours. This is because the Provincial legislation exempts Community Care Facilities with 6 or fewer persons in care, from municipal land use controls. Larger Community Care Facilities (7 or more beds) and Group Residences, are conditional approval uses, which means that each case is reviewed individually and neighbours are notified. [top] What’s the distribution of Community Care Facilities in Vancouver?" While new applications for Community Care Facilities or Group Residences are usually met with some neighbourhood concern, and it is often assumed that there is an ever-increasing number of facilities in the city, this is not in fact true. While the distribution pattern across the city has changed, there has been almost no net growth in the number of facilities or the number of beds, over the past 25 years. In 1982, Vancouver had 143 facilities which housed 5,354 people. 25 years later, there are 153 facilities housing 5167 beds. In 1982, the majority of Community Care Facilities and Group Residences were concentrated in the neighbourhoods that encircle False Creek: Kitsilano, Shaughnessy, Fairview, Mt. Pleasant, Grandview Woodlands and Strathcona/Downtown Eastside. Today, they are much more spread out but the development is still not even. Some Local Areas do not have any resources for frail seniors; others have two or three. Some areas have only smaller houses being used as Community Care Facilities or Group Residences; others have a mixture of smaller and larger, purpose built facilities. It is also true that due to high land costs, there has been very little new development on the west side of the city. [top] What about the distribution across different neighbourhoods? Distribution can be measured in different ways. If we look at the number of beds and number of SNRF per local area, the current distribution is as follows:
[top] However different local areas vary widely in size and population. Current distribution of Community Care Facilities and Group Residences based on # beds per 1000 population is as follows:
[top] What's the impact of these facilities? Who do I call if I have a concern ? New applications for Community Care Facilities and Group Residences are usually met with some degree of concern from neighbours. The City approval process includes neighbourhood notification (except for Community Care Facilities with 6 or fewer beds), and a review of the planned operation including the operator’s track record and any features of the operation that may differ from adjacent uses e.g. if there are extra traffic/parking impacts. Permits for facilities in converted single family homes are issued on a time-limited basis – usually one year. Prior to extending the permit for a second year, the City re-notifies neighbours to ask if they have experienced any concerns with the operation. While there are occasional problems, the general experience is that once facilities are in operation, they do not cause neighbourhood problems. For a detailed review on complaints regarding Community Care Facilities and Group Residences, see our Resources Page on the Social Planning website. Operators of facilities are always asked to name a liaison person(s) to whom neighbours can direct any queries or complaints. In the experience of City staff, maintaining good communications between a facility and neighbours is very helpful in resolving any issues at an early stage. If you have a concern about a nearby Community Care Facility or Group Residence, the first call should be to the liaison person. As part of granting a permit to operate, the City expects the operators to record concerns received from neighbours and record their response to concerns. If you do not have a contact name/number, please call the Community Services Housing Centre at 604-873-7487. [top]
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Questions or Comments? E-mail: social.planning@vancouver.ca © 2008 City of Vancouver |
