The evictions at Grace Seniors Home by ownership & the government's response continues to happen w/o consultation of those most harmed, the senior residents.

So we want to share 8 stories from 8 families because we believe our elders deserve to be heard:
#333Pender #ChinatownYVR
Families have been kept anonymous for valid fears of retribution from ownership against their seniors for courageously speaking out, which has already happened to some members. Stories have also been truncated for Twitter but the full letters are available to gov or media.
[Family 1] "At this time, there is no other viable option to keep my grandparents together in a home that is suitable for them. If they move, they will be separated for the first time in 80yrs of marriage. For them, a Canto-speaking senior home is not a preference, it's a must.
They cannot speak to anyone otherwise. Grace Senior Home is not just an assisted living facility, but also their home and a community where they rely on one another for support during this uncertain time. At 95 & 99, I would never want to take that away from them."
[Family 2] "My 90yo parent moved to Grace after they could no longer live independently. The transition to Grace was made less painful by the fact that they could talk to staff and friends in Canto and have familiar food. Grace is an essential part to their wellbeing.
They are so anxious they can barely sleep since the eviction notice. Last week they fell in the night and wasn't found until morning.

There is a whole support system in Chinatown that my parent depends on for their survival. The eviction takes away their support system."
[Family 3] "The eviction triggered enormous anxiety for my grandpa. He could not sleep all night & the next day, he fell and hit his head. In panic, he called my mom because he was so worried about losing his home. We assured him, but are still very concerned about his wellbeing.
Chinatown has been my grandpa's heartbeat since moving here from HK in the 60s. He is comfortable here & knows many shopkeepers by first name. The walkability gave him independence.

The thought of moving him away from his community in the last years of his life breaks my heart"
[Family 4] "My grandma is 93yo and is in mid-late stage dementia. Being an immigrant from HK, my grandma calls Chinatown her home where she has her friends and neighbors. In her state of dementia, she does not have the capacity to remember new faces or adapt to a new environment.
She cannot speak English so sending her to an English speaking home would be solitary confinement. Hearing that Grace was going to terminate their services in a pandemic was traumatizing. Moving elders to a foreign environment can reduce their life expectancy."
[Family 5] "My 96yo father chose Grace to be close to Chinatown and stay connected with his community & friends. His daily routine is to go for a coffee at New Town and meet his friends at Wong's Benevolent Association. Since Dad heard about the closing he has been anxious & sad.
His care is supported by the friends he made at Grace. He told me: 'It's best I go be with your mom because I don't know where I will end up.' My mom passed away 5yrs ago.

I speak for him and all the other residents at Grace. These seniors cannot and should not be evicted."
[Family 6] "With no family on the west coast and now no staff to help care for him, my nearly 90yo grandpa has been left to fend for himself. The eviction sends a clear message that my grandpa is expendable. The cultural significance of Grace within Chinatown is imperative for...
...meeting my grandpas needs. It's how he can see a Canto-speaking doctor and buy groceries independently. As he struggles with dementia and mobility, if something happened to him, he can trust the staff and community to bring him back to safety.
The Chinatown community is why my grandpa chose Grace, which cannot be found elsewhere. You must understand that this sale not only takes away my grandpa's home, but strips him of his culture. Grace is more than just a building, it gives our most vulnerable access to community."
[Family 7] "My grandma is nearing 90 and has dementia and this eviction has impacted and harmed her significantly. Just changing rooms is difficult enough let alone homes. To move with such short notice is causing her a lot of distress and disorientation.
It is extremely important for her to stay in a Canto senior home within Chinatown. She only speaks Cantonese, so it allows her to feel safe and heard. It's not just language, Chinatown is an important community of support and where we can pay respects to my late grandfather."
[Family 8] "My grandpa is 91yo years old & does not speak any English. He has significant anxiety & worries about losing his community & social connections. I fear that his quality of life will be significantly impacted if forced to leave his beloved neighborhood.
His peers and community members in Chinatown specifically provide a rich and caring community which supports his best health and quality of life. Chinese seniors are the heart of Chinatown, and I fear that Chinatown’s vibrance and livelihood will also decline with the eviction."
If you made it this far and feel sad/mad please treat yourself to this adorable video of our grandmas hanging out.

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I want to be clear that we families 100% support the work & mission of the nonprofit buyer, Lu'ma. We don't think this situation that the gov has put us in is fair to us or Lu'ma and believe it's possible to create social housing for both vulnerable communities w/o displacement.
We refuse to buy into the colonial narrative that we must compete for resources from government when a just and inclusive solution should ensure adequate resources for all. A win for the vulnerable seniors at Grace must include a win for Lu'ma's communities as well.
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