VIHA and CMHA and Balmoral Hotel, Oh My

Thanks to Dilling for the heads up with this post. 

Despite the lack of adequate notification to people who live in the south end of Nanaimo that this meeting was taking place it was reported that about 120 concerned neighbours attended. It was so crowded that the hosting South End Community Association put a speaker in the hallway so attendees could hear those speaking into the microphone inside. Those who attended cared enough that they withstood the stifling heat in the building.

I was left feeling conflicted at this meeting. On one hand, I was pleased that I wasn't the only one with the concerns over what the Vancouver Island Health Authority and the Canadian Mental Health Association is proposing. On the other hand, I was really let down that it appeared that VIHA and CMHA representatives were acting on the obligation to be there. They seemed to be going through the motions instead of listening to the opinions and concerns shared. If I could have asked one question it would have been to ask where these representatives lived. I highly doubt any of them live in the south end.

The biggest disappointment for me wasn't even a main topic for the night. It was realising that when we're told that created housing is going to be spread out over the Nanaimo area they really mean it will be spread out over the South Nanaimo area. There seems to be no intention of opening up housing outside of this already burdened neighbourhood. To hell with the people that live here who have been working hard to turn the neighbourhood around and create a worthwhile community.

As many many people have already attested, having a low barrier style resource center in a neighbourhood that is actively trying to make drug sellers and users unwelcome is a serious step backwards. To impose this on the community is unfair and unkind. I can see the benefit to having a low barrier style living room space for the purpose of getting these people off the street as well as getting them in touch with crisis response in the interest in harm reduction. The location however, is vitally important to get right. It needs to be central but also enclosed enough that it discourages people from loitering and hanging out in large groups in front or near by. It's a difficult balance of offering addicts access to much needed services and making it uncomfortable enough that they won't linger after their treatment. 

VIHA and CMHA seem to be giving the whole harm reduction strategy lip service rather than wholly buying in to the concept. They consistently don't employee enough people and jeopardise the whole process by underfunding and understaffing the front line service. There's a serious lack of planing. They don't consult with the city, neighbourhoods or police. They simply look for the cheapest building immediate to the problem area and slam as many services as possible in it. Many of these people need hospital services every day or week. Why aren't they creating housing and service options near the hospital? 

The most significant pillar of the harm reduction strategy is getting the people at risk removed from their stressers. That means off the streets, away from direct access to drugs and the drug culture. This is why VIHA should be looking outside of South Nanaimo and around the municipality and throughout the central island. We only need to look at the problems facing the city of Victoria right now to understand how horribly wrong things can go if this stress is concentrated in one area. 

Organisations like VIHA and CMHA must work with the community. If there isn't significant buy in and commitment at all levels then the whole thing is for naught. It's important to remember that the homeless and those at risk are still members of our society and we have an obligation to help them move towards a healthy lifestyle. Throwing pennies in the wishing well hoping this will go away is more expensive in the long run and ultimately helps no one.

From the South End Community Association:

HI everyone: well, the media has picked up on our issue and we need to ensure that our message is heard. 

The first article in Thursday's Nanaimo Daily News, focuses on much of what happened at the meeting on Wed nite. Here's the link.

Today's articles reflect the city's growing rebuttal to our efforts. Here's the link. 

It appears that their major argument is going to be that we've got all the druggies and homeless here anyway, that we are a neighbourhood under great stress and they are the great white knight riding in to help us. 

Yes, we have had some problems in the past few weeks, but those have been due to at least 2 drug busts that have sent people out onto the street. The last 18 months has been relatively free of the type of hassles we used to suffer years ago. And we are doing most of it ourselves, with the help of the RCMP and bylaws. We have taken charge of our neighbourhood. We need to bring THIS message across.

Please, please take the time to reply to one of these articles....NOW...there's a section at the end where you can post. The media will help us, but ONLY if we feed it...and we know that the PR folks on the other side will be doing exactly that.

Or send an e-mail directly to the editor: editor@nanaimodailynews.com

The Nanaimo Bulletin also published an article on the front page of Thursday's paper (no link avail) and there will be an article on Saturday. They are happy to post as many letters to the editor as they can fit in, so don't forget them, because this is the paper that many of your neighbours read.

Here is their e-mail address: editor@nanaimobulletin.com

What you write doesn't need to be perfect...and if you are stuck, just call me at 740.0123 and I'll help.

And please, send a copy of your letter to us so we can bundle them together for city council.

Thanks

Barbara Densmore

Also, city council meeting Monday night July 14, please mark on your calendars. We are on the agenda.