Halfway house hits a snag with city

By Dan Hilborn
Published Feb. 2, 2005



One of the oldest halfway houses in Burnaby is vowing to fight back after officials with city hall advised them their new facility has too many residents and is operating outside the regulations of the city's zoning bylaws.

Allan Ammerlaan, founder and executive director of Luke 15 House, said his Christian-based program to help ex-convicts kick drug and alcohol addictions has been in Burnaby for a dozen years, and he has no intention of changing the way it operates.

"We had a visit from two bylaw inspectors who said there were too many people in the house and it had to be cut down," Ammerlaan said last week. "At this point, we're going to fight it."

The complaint comes just three months after the program was forced out of its former facilities - two homes in the Edmonds neighbourhood of South Burnaby - because of an electrical fire at one of the homes. When Luke 15 House moved in December, its two homes were merged into one larger, rented single-family home on Union Street near Holdom.

Ammerlaan said he had already formed a neighbours' committee to work on issues of concern with the surrounding community when city hall issued the home the notice last week.

City licensing inspector Craig Collis confirmed that two staff members visited the house last week after a complaint was received.

"The bylaw does limit the number of people who can occupy the house, and that's what we're going to attempt to gain compliance with," Collis said on Monday morning.

Coun. Dan Johnston, chair of the city's social issues committee, said Luke 15 House does provide a valuable service to the community, but that does not give them the right to ignore city bylaws.

"This is a difficult one for me because this is housing for people who need it," Johnston said. "However, its impact is not acceptable to the neighbourhood."

Johnston said he hopes Luke 15 House will work with the city's housing committee to find a workable solution to the zoning problem.

John Foster, the city's social planner, said Luke 15 House might be able to take the same route as that followed by the Charlford House recovery society, which recently brought its residence for women into compliance with city bylaws.

"The bottom line is that something like that would have to be in an institutionally zoned site," Foster said.

Ammerlaan is not happy with the fact that his home operated for 12 years without any complaints in South Burnaby, but as soon as they moved into an 'upscale' neighbourhood, the city began to take action against them.

"Somebody in the rich part of Burnaby does not want Luke 15 here," Ammerlaan said. "For 12 years we've had the support of the federal and provincial government, we've had help from people in the churches, in corrections and from judges. And now you're telling me that we have to move?"

Ammerlaan also said that city hall must have been aware of the house's existence because Luke 15 has been written about in both local newspapers, has had frequent visits from both its former NDP MLA Fred Randall and current Liberal MLA Patty Sahota, and its former MP Paul Forseth has even shown up for Bible study.

And, just days before the complaint was received, Ammerlaan invited a Burnaby NOW reporter and photographer into the new house to show off the work done in their Christian-based drug and alcohol recovery program for recently released convicts.

The large, three-storey home is located on a quiet street, amid other homes ranging in age from nearly new to about 40 years old. With about 3,000 square feet spread over three levels, Luke 15 House has eight bedrooms, a large living room, kitchen and dining hall, plus separate meeting and recreation rooms downstairs.

"When I bring the guys out from jail and show them this house, they ask 'Am I going to live here?'" Ammerlaan said during that earlier interview. "This place does so much for their self-esteem.

Men typically arrive at the house on a referral from their correction facility or parole officer and after Ammerlaan interviews them to determine if they would be compatible with the other clients.

Once accepted, the men take part in a structured program that includes Bible study, 12-step meetings and chores to help keep the house operating.

During the first week, newcomers need an escort before they're allowed to go to meetings outside the house, while those at the senior level have the largest bedroom and more freedom, plus the use of a Jacuzzi bathtub. All clients must accept the hours of curfew and required chores.

Ammerlaan said he sends a new list of the clients living in the house to Staff Sgt. Cal Fister of the North Burnaby community policing office every week.

Ammerlaan also said that the neighbours who have dropped in to find out what's happening in the home have all walked away with good feelings for the program and the work they're doing in the community.

The house, which costs almost $4,000 to rent and consumes upward of $2,500 worth of food each month, is funded by the donations of local churches and the monthly social assistance cheques - usually $475 per person - of its clients.

Men typically stay in the house for four months, but some leave early or stay longer depending on their personal situations. Ammerlaan also said the success rate cannot be measured simply by the numbers of people they help clean up from drugs or alcohol.

"We've had over 500 guys through this house, and I imagine 250 or more are successful out there," said Ammerlaan.

"I've had guys come to Luke 15 House and not make it. But I've also run into guys years later, and their lives have changed. It may just not happen when you want it to happen. So I'm here to plant a seed. And that seed may grow now or it might not happen for years down the road. It's an ongoing thing."

And Ammerlaan is hopeful the house itself will weather this crisis the way it has weathered every other bump on the road for the past 12 years - with hard work and faith.

The hard work begins anew next Monday night when Ammerlaan is scheduled to present his arguments to Burnaby city council.