A mock wedding will be held April 1 on the steps of the Alberta Legislature to bring attention to the housing crisis that could be inflicted on people with developmental disabilities as new regulations come into effect.
The new safety standards, which were introduced two years ago, are set to take effect as of April 1 this year. Under the regulations, the landlords who rent housing to people with disabilities will have to undergo more inspections and comply with municipal licensing standards.
Those standards can include the need to upgrade safety equipment, such as installing sprinklers or other costly changes. They apply to residential facilities where overnight care is required and two or more adults who aren’t related live.
Keri McEachern, who is part of the Self Advocacy Federation and a St. Albert resident, has joined an effort spearheaded by the group Disability Action Hall from Calgary to draw attention to a loophole that exempts people who are living with family.
“If they’re related by blood, so if you’re living with your brother or sister you’re exempt, or if you’re married and you happen to also have a disability with PDD (people with developmental disabilities) supports, you’re exempt,” said Colleen Huston of the Disability Action Hall group.
McEachern pointed out her colleague who has disabilities and is living common-law could be affected by the change, but if the couple were to be legally married they’d be exempt.
McEachern and Huston are concerned about the housing crisis that could be sparked by the changes, noting they’ve already heard of a few people who will be losing their current housing because of the new regulations.
“They’re already marginalized. People with disabilities are already forced to live with two or three or more people to make it,” McEachern said. “That landlord is not going to want to start investing large sums of money to meet these ridiculous standards.”
Huston worries that, since agencies such as hers can’t afford to own homes to provide housing, the only options will be hospitals or the street for people.
“(An) unintended consequence is stepping back 20 years,” she said.
The mock wedding could be called off if they rescind the changes, Huston said. They’ve been talking to the province and the municipal governments to try and halt the change. A spokesman from the Human Services Department has told media outlets recently that the provincial government will consider extension requests.
Meanwhile, McEachern notes LoSeCa’s executive director Marie Renaud has been a strong advocate on the issue. The foundation and the family of one of their clients filed a complaint with the Human Rights Commission earlier this year.
