An amendment to the City of New Westminster’s zoning could help create more homes for youth.
The city has received an inquiry about using a single-family home as a residence for youth in foster care and/or youth transitioning out of foster care. Council has given two reading to a zoning amendment bylaw that would allow single-family dwellings to accommodate up to 12 youth in foster care and/or transitioning out of foster care.
Under current zoning, a single-family dwelling can accommodate four foster children in the main dwelling and the secondary suite, for a total of eight foster children.
“Studies suggest that in British Columbia between half and two-thirds of all people who live on the street are former foster youth, and that approximately half of homeless youth are current or former foster youth,” said a staff report. “At the age of 19, foster youth are legally adults and they lose all supports and are described as ‘transitioning from foster care.’ While the expectation is that they have the skills and supports needed for independence, this is often not the case. By the time they are 18 years of age, a foster youth will have experienced, on average, nine different residential placements, and attended, on average, six different schools. The lack of stability and support for foster youth has significant implications on their education levels and health outcomes.”
City council will hold a public hearing on the proposed zoning amendment bylaw on Monday, Nov. 27 at 6 p.m.
While the city “does a lot of good work” and gets noticed for its efforts to reduce homelessness, create more rental housing and improve the environment, Coun. Jaimie McEvoy said smaller initiatives like this can make a “huge difference” in people’s lives.
