Today's post, like many others, has me ranting out loud. Fortunately, it's not just my kitchen appliances that are my sounding board. My husband is home on Spring Break and willingly gives me his ears. While in Victoria, we were watching the local Shaw News channel (nerdy yes, but informative) about an innovative idea which combines a century-old farm with a therapeutic centre for the homeless.
Woodwynn Farms is the vision of the group Creating HomeFulness lead by executive director, Richard LeBlanc. http://woodwynnfarms.org/ The group has purchased a 193 acre organic farm in Central Saannich [on Vancouver Island] and hopes to convert it from a former cattle farm and the present hay farm to an organic produce farm. They hope to start with 12 street persons and grow to 96 street persons (plus 24 staff) housed on site. This project is based on a similar project in San Patrignano, Italy which saw over 1,500 lives affected with a 70% success rate. Brilliant. Innovative. What could possibly stand in their way?
Well, a few minor details. NIMBY-ism (not in my backyard) and bureaucracy. Not so minor details. In order for the farm to have on-site housing, therapy rooms and a larger building to sell the produce it must undergo a variance to the zoning. Currently, it is zoned for agricultural use as part of the ALR (agricultural land reserve). It seems that the Woodwynn Farms project would fit all that criteria. They hope to offer locally grown and produced foods. The "dorms" and mess hall would be low impact (likely a trailer type) & energy efficient. Over the initial 5 years, the project would house 500 people and provide on-site therapeutic programs. Yet, on March 21st, as Richard LeBlanc was set to give an informational presentation to the Central Saanich council, a councillor made a preemptive motion to reject the group's application outright. Bound by rules of order, the council took a vote. Three voted to reject the application, 3 voted against the motion (and 1 abstention due to a conflict of interest). Since it was a tie, the project will go to the planning department for consideration. All this could take months, perhaps years. All because of fear.
In the meantime, Woodwynn Farms plows ahead. In the fall of 2010 volunteers planted 350 fruit and nut trees. They have been growing, baling and selling hay for the past three years and currently have 4 street persons working on the property. For all the support for the farm there is certainly a battle ahead. In reading the "comments" under a few recent newspaper articles it seems that the NIMBY attitude prevails. The comments fall under a few categories, here are my responses to their concerns:
1) Keep the homeless in Victoria! Many people feel that homelessness is not their problem, they live in Saanich for a reason. Don't they know that the "homeless" are likely their neighbour's child or grandchild. It's not likely that their new neighbours are going to be folks with a violent criminal past... not like the half-way house I'm sure is located somewhere in the Saanich vicinity (since the Victoria area has the largest number of parolees per population in BC).
2) Cost. Many people are saying that the financial burden of supporting this project will cost the taxpayers too much. They may not realize that a 2008 study by UBC estimated that homelessness costs $55,000 per homeless person per year. It is estimated that Canada spends $4.5 to 6 billion a year on services for the homeless. All. Taypayer. Money. Would you invest your hard earned dollars into an innovative program that could have a 70% success rate or go with the status quo? Besides, this project will give its neighbours the bonus of organic veggies.
3) Zoning- you knew it when you bought it! Many folks criticize the HomeFulness group of being naive that they could just change the zoning. "They should have bought a place that had the zoning they needed," writes one commenter. I would guess that this type of zoning just doesn't exist. Anywhere. I am sure that the good people who developed the ALR in the mid-70's did not forsee this type of development. The OCP (official community plan) for Central Saanich makes maintaining agricultural lands a priority, especially those which are economically and environmentally feasible. The OCP also supports diverse housing (including social services and transitional housing) as well as "responding to changing social needs". So it would be surprising if the planning department can find a way around their own OCP.
4) Redundant! One naysayer also pointed out that, in his opinion, Woodwynn Farms is redundant since a similar facility exists in Hope Farm near Duncan. mustardseed.ca/ministries/hopefarmhealingcentre/ Hope Farm is definitely a similar project. It is housed on 36 acres and offers facilities and treatment for 10 men at a time. Can the island not provide this type of experience for more than 10 people? Perhaps, the island needs 2,3,5,even 10 more Hope Farm/ Woodwynn Farms? *an interesting note: my mom and Hope Farm's Manager, Mike Burdge, went to high school together! Who knew?
No matter how loud I rant, my appliances just don't care or take action. Woodwynn Farms has a letter writing campaign, under "write a letter" located in left column of their home page, to help gain support for the re-zoning. I offer my kudos to Richard LeBlanc and volunteers, as well as the visionaries behind Hope Farm and the Mustard Seed who are part of the solution to homelessness. Whether we like it or not, homelessness affects us all & all of us can be part of the solution. So, I need to wrap up what's become a lengthy post and get writing... it's definitely more productive than yelling at a fridge and stove!
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