The success of a pilot program aimed at helping hard-core addicts has been nothing less than dramatic, city council heard Tuesday.
Commonly referred to as a 'wet shelter,' the managed alcohol program in a city-owned building on Larch street is aimed at stabilizing the city's most vulnerable citizens, with an eye on keeping them out of jail, out of hospital and, eventually, into permanent housing.
Dr. Mike Franklyn, speaking in support of the Canadian Mental Health Association's program, said the success of Sudbury's eight-patient day program has attracted attention from other communities.
“These are some very sick people,” Franklyn said. “They are medically complex patients.”
In the 18 months since the program began, however, ER visits by this demographic have dropped by 85 per cent, their hospital stays have been reduced by 50 per cent, they spend far less time in detox and, overall, are much healthier.
“These programs are freeing up resources for other people,” he said.
Marion Quigley, CEO, Canadian Mental Health Association, Sudbury/Manitoulin, asked councillors to transfer ownership of the Larch Street building to the CMHA.
They are aiming to complete about $4 million in renovations to make the centre a hub for services for the most vulnerable, she said. To be eligible for $2.25 million in capital money from upper levels of government, they must own the building, Quiqley said.
The city's contribution would be the building, they have operating funding through the LHIN of $1 million a year, but to keep that money, they must offer live-in services for 15 people. And to do that, the renovations must be completed.
In addition to the wet shelter, Larch street would operate as an emergency shelter for anyone 16 and older that needs a place to sleep.
“You need to ask yourself, where would these people be sleeping if we didn't have the shelter?” she asked. “We know the annex works. It's staffed appropriately and we have security on site to keep people safe.
“(But) moving forward, we have to have 15 beds.”
Franklyn made it clear that they are not solving all the problems of the people they help, adding that a “tiny minority” may actually get clean.
“We're not curing alcoholism,” he said.
The idea is to reduce harm, get them stable and then move them to permanent social housing
“These people go from being vagrants, panhandlers ... to permanent housing,” Franklyn said.
Council easily supported the plan, although language will be added to ensure the building reverts back to the city should the program end or move.
Ward 6 Coun. Rene Lapierre wondered whether the Larch Street location was the best, since it's very close to a LCBO store.
“That's absolutely a problem,” Franklyn said. “We need to build relationships with the liquor store to come up with solutions.”
It's important the shelter be downtown, he said, and they will work with the liquor store. They have also talked with the nearby Tim Hortons about ways to reduce loitering.
“The stats and the science back it up,” Ward 10 Coun. Fern Cormier said in supporting the plan. “The success stories that have emanated from the facility speaks volumes to what we are doing.
“This is a fundamentally important first step ... They are our citizens, as much as any other citizen in this community.”
