Company Declines to Provide Info on Group Home Closures
In Victoria, British Columbia, the Community Living B.C. company has reportedly closed 19 group homes across British Columbia but they are not providing information as to who operated the homes and where they were located. The company stated they were not providing such information due to contractual obligations for privacy to the group homes that were closed. The closures began in April and spanned all the way to September.
A union representing group home workers argued the closures were simply a measure for the government to save money and they stated that many people were being forced out of those group homes and did not leave voluntarily. A representative for the Community Living B.C. stated they are trying to reallocate funds by closing these homes in order to be able to provide better services to those who request them.
It is reasonable for a certain level of privacy to be extended to companies because they deserve that privacy. However, the public is also entitled to certain information such as the area where the group homes are located and the reasons for the closures, for example. If a high number of closures begin to occur in the same area, the public should be made aware of the reasons in order to ensure that their loved ones are not placed in a group home with similar issues. By releasing this information to the public, it will allow them to be more aware of things to look for in other group homes or nursing/assisted living centers.
