The British Columbia government has announced an independent review of the province’s home-share program, following the tragic death of a woman with Down syndrome from starvation in a shared home in Port Coquitlam.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Social Development, the review will focus on safety within home-share arrangements, standards that promote quality of life, and accountability and oversight measures. The government also said it will establish an advisory panel including individuals, families, and service providers to gather input and help develop strong recommendations for the program’s future.
Florence Girard was 54 years old when she died in 2018, weighing only 50 pounds at the time of her death. She had been living in a shared home that was part of Community Living BC, a program for individuals with developmental disabilities.
In January 2025, a coroner’s inquest jury issued 13 recommendations, which included better training and pay for home-share providers, as well as an improved system to coordinate the needs of residents.
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