What is the Community Living Coalition?

The Community Living Coalition (CLC) is an open and inclusive gathering of family members, individuals with disabilities, service providers and other advocates who came together in the fall of 2001 with two primary goals:

Ü      to address the government's budget cutback announcements; and

Ü      to develop a new vision for community living that would empower individuals and families to make decisions about how they lead their lives in the community.

In November 2001, the Community Living Coalition presented a proposal to the Minister for Children and Family Development (MCFD), the Honorable Gordon Hogg. The proposal’s key pillars were to:

Ü      make system-wide changes to the way community living services and supports are provided by shifting control of services to a community governance body;

Ü      provide individualized funding as an option to individuals with developmental disabilities and families of children and youth with special needs;

Ü      stop the cutbacks to community living services;

Ü      enable the community governance body to achieve savings through administrative efficiencies, and to reinvest those savings to support individuals and families waitlisted for services;

Ü      ensure that self-advocates and family members always comprise 50% plus one on the board and any committees of the new governance body.

Service Transformation

The Community Living Transition Steering Committee (CLTSC) Report

From April to October in 2002, a 25 member committee comprised of self-advocates, family members and service providers developed a proposal for a new way to deliver community living services in BC.  The CLTSC submitted its report to MCFD Minister Gordon Hogg in October, 2002. 

Ü      CLTSC Report - www.cltsc.bc.ca/Final_Report.htm

Ü      Plain language version - www.cltsc.bc.ca/Plain_Language_CLTSC_Final_Report.pdf

For many Coalition members, the CLTSC report reflected a long held dream to develop a more flexible, innovative and responsive service system which honors the right of individuals and families to determine their own futures in the community.

The Interim Authority for Community Living British Columbia

The Interim Authority for Community Living British Columbia represents the next stage in the transformation of community living services in British Columbia.  In November, 2002 a Board of Directors, made up of family members and self-advocates was appointed to undertake the planning and development work required for a new provincial governance organization to be known as Community Living British Columbia. 

CLBC will be responsible for the delivery of services to adults with developmental disabilities, and many children and youth with special needs and their families.  Progress towards community governance has been reviewed in two formal ways:

1. The Sage Report assessed the broader MCFD move to community governance: http://www.communitylivingcoalition.bc.ca/sagereport.htm.
2. The Readiness Panel provided an external review of the Interim Authority’s progress to ensure that key measures are completed before the transition to community governance: http://www.interimauthorityclbc.ca/Readiness_Panel.htm.

The date for CLBC to assume responsibility from MCFD for the delivery of community living services is June 1, 2004. 

You can contact the Interim Authority by email at info@InterimAuthorityCLBC.ca.  The Interim Authority’s office is located at 2752 East 41^st Avenue, Vancouver, V5R 2X1 [Phone: 604-660-3450 / Fax: 604-660-3353].  An extensive set of frequently asked questions can be found at www.interimauthorityclbc.ca/faq.htm.  The website is www.interimauthorityclbc.ca. 

Budget Reductions

Early in 2002, the Community Living Coalition mounted a campaign urging the government to stop cutbacks to community living services.  In response, government reduced the planned cuts from 35% to 17%. While not the end of the budget struggle, this was an encouraging first victory for the Coalition.  In June 2003, MCFD completed a mid-term review of their Service Plan and convinced Treasury Board and Cabinet that a 17% budget target was not achievable. $38.8 M. was returned to the community living Budget lowering the three year budget reduction to $50.2M.

Community Living Coalition Roles

As the transformation of community living moves from the planning phase to the implementation phase, an intense level of advocacy will be required by the community.  The Coalition needs to be vigilant to ensure that the principles of individual and family leadership of the new governance authority will be maintained.  To read more about the history on the Coalition, please visit www.communitylivingcoalition.bc.ca/history.htm.

The Coalition continues to work to increase its communication with the broader community and its support for this important community led initiative:

Ü      The Coalition meets regularly and provides a community forum where issues are raised and progress towards community governance is reviewed.  

Ü      Over 700 people from across the Province receive our email updates.

Ü      Our network of Community Facilitators is available to assist in sharing information with their communities across BC.  To identify a Facilitator in your area, visit our website at www.communitylivingcoalition.bc.ca/Facilitator_Contacts.htm.