Florence Girard, seen here in a family handout photo from 2006, died of starvation in a Port Coquitlam, B.C., home in 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS
Months after a heartbreaking loss, the B.C. government is taking a closer look at its home-sharing program for adults with developmental disabilities. The move follows the inquest into the 2018 death of Florence Girard, a 54-year-old woman with Down syndrome who died from starvation while in care.
Florence weighed just 50 pounds when she passed away in a Port Coquitlam home. She was part of a provincially funded home-share program intended to provide support and dignity to individuals like her. Instead, she died in silence—alone and severely neglected.
A System Under the Microscope
The Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction announced the review this week. It will assess how safe these home-share environments truly are. It will also examine how well they support quality of life and what accountability systems are in place.
The goal, the ministry said, is to ensure no one else falls through the cracks.
An advisory group will be formed to guide this review. It will include people with lived experience—individuals, families, and service providers. Their insights are expected to shape new recommendations for reform.
A Tragic Death That Sparked Change
Girard’s death shocked many and raised deep concerns about the quality of care in such programs. Her death was the focus of a coroner’s inquest earlier this year. In January, a jury issued 13 recommendations. These included better training and pay for home-share providers and a more coordinated care system for residents.
The recommendations reflected a need for urgent improvements and stronger safeguards for vulnerable individuals.
Calls for Accountability and Action
Shane Simpson, board chair of Community Living BC, says the organization supports the review. He acknowledged that the agency has already made changes to its processes since Girard’s death. However, the review will be a chance to assess those steps and push for further improvement.
Simpson emphasized the importance of restoring public confidence and ensuring safety in care arrangements. But this review, he added, is a chance to go further—to ensure such a tragedy never happens again.
Hope for a Safer Tomorrow
The independent review of is expected to conclude this fall. Until then, those affected by the Home-Sharing Program await tangible changes.
For families across the province, the government’s move brings hope for a safer, more compassionate system for adults with developmental disabilities – a deeper commitment to transparency.
Florence Girard’s death will not be forgotten. Her story now fuels a necessary reckoning—and a renewed commitment to care.
This review could become a turning point for home-share care in British Columbia.
