Vancouver seniors face eviction from retirement home

The families of 20 elderly people are scrambling to find housing for their loved ones after they received eviction notices from their assisted-living home.

Terraces on 7th is aVancouver retirement home operated byRetirement Concepts, which operates 24 retirement units. While some of the housing units are fully paid for by residents, others are subsidized through a contract with Vancouver Coastal Health.

ButRetirement Conceptsrecently gave notice that it's ending the arrangement with VCH for business reasons, forcing many elderly residents to suddenly search for a new home.

"She's finally making friends, she's finally knowing the neighbourhood, and she gets this letter saying she has to move again," said Dave Brereton, whose 89-year-old mother-in-lawwas among those given notice.

"She just doesn't understand why this is happening to her. This is the stress that shortens their lives and causes them illness, and that is our major concern."

Caroline Coutts, whose 90-year-old motherBarbara is in the same situation, called on the provincial government and Retirement Concepts to come together and find a solution.

"This is purely for profit. Retirement Concepts has $1 billion in assets, and they are throwing out of this place my mother and other vulnerable seniors. This is an absolute disgrace, and should not be allowed to go ahead."

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In a statement, the Ministry of Health said they are "not aware of any other providers or facilities planning to end their contracts" and that any moving costs will be covered by Vancouver Coastal Health and Terraces on 7th.

"VCH funds 527 assisted living suites in the City of Vancouver (more than 860 across the region) and is working on securing additional suites at existing contracted sites to replace the 20 suites at Terraces," the ministryadded.

A majority stake in Retirement Concepts was sold to Chinese-based Anbang Insurance Group last year, butTerraces on 7th was not included in that purchase.

Retirement Concepts did not respond to requests for comment.