TORONTO -- Angry Brampton residents are outraged that a group home is operating on their quiet street with a single young offender who is receiving an allowance of $150 a week even though he is before the court on sex charges.
The 14-year-old is supervised by two case workers, who stay with him day and night in a $350,000 home in a recently built subdivision. The modern brick home is loaded with the latest computer games for the teen, officials said.
The quiet street is also the home of many young children, whose parents said on Wednesday they weren’t aware of the Children’s Aid Society group home.
The youth was charged last month by Toronto Police with sexual assault and sexual interference in connection with an incident that allegedly occurred while he was visiting family members as part of a rehabilitation program.
Det.-Const. Michelle Bond, of 31 Division Family Services Unit, said the teen will return to a Finch Ave. W. court on Monday.
He was released on bail and conditions, one being that he remain at the home.
One neighbour, who identified himself as John, said he has complained about loud noise coming from the home, which had its blinds drawn on Wednesday.
Tightly knit community
“We have lived here for a year and no one has told us anything about a group home,” John said. “I have a small daughter and I am not happy about this.”
Another neighbour, who identified himself as Max, said residents keep an eye on each other in the tightly knit community.
“We know some of the neighbours but have never suspected anything,” Max said. “We will be more watchful from now on.”
A social worker at the home refused to give his name or talk about the young offender.
The boy has his clothing, laundry and food provided free in addition to his allowance, sources said.
The case has angered Toronto Sun readers who sent dozens of e-mails in disgust.
“This stinks of waste and public servants who are too richly funded!” said GT.
Dirk Hoogendoorn said the home should be given to a needy family and not a youth.
“Is the CAS this out of touch with reality?” Hoogendoorn asked. “What are we doing and why the extravagance?”
Reader Hal Aktulga said he was removing himself from a CAS mailing list.
“To find out our hard-earned money is wasted in this manner makes us feel not just disappointed, but angry as well,” Aktulga wrote.
CAS and provincial government officials refused comment, citing privacy concerns.
