Alberta repeals housing regulation for people with disabilities after human rights complaint

The Alberta government has repealed provincialhousing rules for people with severe disabilities, after itsparked complaints to the Human Rights Commission and led to a backlash from the community.

The Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PDD) Safety Standards Regulation introduced by the previous PC government two years agowas meant toimprove the safety of people in their home.

But Human Services Minister Irfan Sabiracknowledged that the rules were "confusing and caused undue stress in the community."

"[Community] feedback told us that safety is important, but that the current regulation is not the solution," said Sabir.

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The chair of the public consultation team,John teLinde, said requirements such as sprinkler systems, firewalls, and water regulators were costly requirements that many landlords were not prepared to make.

As a result, some people with disabilities were facing eviction.

"Participants identified a number of serious concerns about the current regulations including costs and perceived discrimination," said teLinde.

New recommendations coming

Sabir says a second phase of consultation is underway, and new recommendations will be presentedwithin six months.

"We have heard the disability community loud and clear, and we will continue working to ensure we get this right," he added.

Disability advocates had warned that the standards wouldseverely limit housing options for manyof thosereceiving government support.

In one case, a woman was left with nowhere to go but the Alberta Hospital after inspectors deemed a window in her home an improper emergency exit.

Similarly, a landlord gave two 20-year residents notice rather than make upgrades.

The regulation stemmed from a fatality inquiry into the death of a woman with Down syndrome in a 2007 house fire in Edmonton.

Under the rules, service providers had to show housing had passed several inspections and complied with municipal codes and bylaws by April 1, 2015.

While service providers are still required to meet accreditation standards, none of the other safety standards introduced in the legislation now applies, Sabir said.

Inspectors will only visit homes if a specific complaint is lodged, but will no longer proactively inspect people's homes.