Efforts to establish a supervised consumption site in Greater Sudbury have hit a wall and it could still be up to a year before one is up and running.
Greater Sudbury Mayor Brian Bigger held a video press conference Wednesday afternoon following a meeting of the task team that was established last year.
The task team meeting brought a number of community organizations to the table, all working together to find solutions to the issues facing the city's homeless population.
Topping the list is the opioid crisis, and the ongoing efforts to bring a supervised consumption site have hit a standstill, says the mayor. Réseau Access Network and Public Health Sudbury and Districts have been leading the way in the search for a suitable site, but to date have had no success.
"What I've heard is they believe they've hit a wall," said Bigger. "They haven't identified a suitable site at this time; the city has looked at three particular sites but the Community Drug Strategy hasn't had any success."
Bigger went on to explain that it could still be as many as 12 months before a supervised consumption site is fully operational.
"Once we do find a site it has to be approved by the provincial government which could take three to six months," said Bigger. "It would still be about nine to 12 months before it's up and running."
City council will be getting a more fullsome update from Community Drug Strategy co-chairs Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, medical officer of health with PHSD, and Greater Sudbury Police Services chief Paul Pedersen.
Another key item discussed by the task team on Wednesday was the ongoing issues with encampments being set up, like that at the YMCA parking lot.
"We're looking to find resolutions, we're all working together to moving our objectives forward," said Bigger. "The key is we'd like to see individuals get what they require. We understand the concerns that individuals and businesses in the area have."
The Greater Sudbury Housing Corporation held their annual general meeting on May 11, and their most recent report identified that there are at least 100 vacant housing units at this time.
Bigger said that efforts are being made to repair some of the units to get them to livable conditions and that avenues are being looked at to open up spaces at other units.
"There are units that are in the process of being repaired; the second process is we're looking to see what opportunities we have with some of our scattered units," said Bigger.
The city's general manager of community development, Steve Jacques is part of the task team and has been involved in the conversation when it comes to affordable housing in the city.
Bigger's overarching message Wednesday was that the need for solutions has never been this urgent and that a collaborative approach is of the utmost importance moving forward. The mayor explained that the city has been doing its best to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to the city's vulnerable population.
"Essentially everyone who has agreed to a vaccine has been able to get one," said Bigger. "We've set up vaccination centres at the Sudbury Arena where anyone who wants a vaccine, anyone from our vulnerable and homeless community, has been able to receive a vaccine."
