Needle Exchange Update

VIHA has identified a potential new location for a fixed needle distribution site. It’s in the Burnside-Gorge neighbourhood just north of the Downtown border on Princess Street.

Members of the DRA have been part of VIHA’s Needle Exchange Advisory committee and its spin-off, the Site Selection Subcommittee. We find that this site–while far from perfect–meets many of the requirements a successful needle exchange needs.

The Times Colonist reports on it here, although it weighs heavily on the opinions expressed by members of SOLID (Society of Living Intravenous Drug users). It should be noted that the spokesperson for SOLID may not necessarily reflect the views of the SOLID Board or membership, let alone the opinions of Victoria’s drug users.

In a July 23 letter to the Vancouver Island Health Authority’s Needle Exchange Advisory Committee, a group calling itself SOLID — Society for Living Intravenous Drug Users — said a proposed site on Princess Street was inappropriate. No address was given.

The letter, a copy of which was obtained by the Times Colonist, said the area is known to drug users as “extremely dangerous and violent due to street gang activity,” and any attempt at extra policing would only scare away needle-exchange clients.

The area is a few steps away from Government Street’s prostitute stroll. I’m not aware of any other extraordinary “gang” activity here and I’m certain the Vic PD would agree.

SOLID, listed as a member of the Needle Exchange Advisory Committee, also said that the site was too far from downtown services, buildings were badly maintained and unsuitable for a health service and current tenants would have to be displaced.

The site is relatively close to needed services. The compactness of Downtown Victoria gives the illusion of being far. Superimpose Victoria’s services onto a map of Vancouver or any other large city and the distances appear much closer.

The houses need minimal upgrades to meet requirements according to VIHA–not much more than was done at their comparable Nanaimo exchange.

It’s true that current tenants will be displaced but the landlord assures us accomodation will be made at his other properties. Still, there would be a net loss of low-income housing.

The letter argues 941 Pandora Ave., the site of the old St. John’s Ambulance Society, is still the best site for a needle exchange.

But the exchange, and the accompanying drug trade, would destabilize the 900 block Pandora which is already at critical mass for chaos. The residents (including Our Place) deserve a home free from public disorder.

900 Block Pandora GNA

Times Colonist photo

This afternoon at the Victoria Conservatory of Music I (on behalf of the DRA) signed a Good Neighbour Agreement for the 900 block of Pandora. Other signees included VIHA, the VCM, Our Place, The City of Victoria, the North Park Neighbourhood Association and some of the retailers along the block, including McDonald’s. The Times Colonist reports here.

It was several months in the making and we hope it will help open lines of communication in this busy block.

Any Good Neighbour Agreement isn’t a magic bullet. Many things need to happen to ensure safety and vibrancy in a neighbourhood and a GNA is only a small part.

It does mean that everyone in the block takes some responsibility for ensuring the health of the street, from sidewalk cleaning to informing neighbours and police about criminal activity.

TC: Urban Safety on Town Hall Agenda

Urban safety on town-hall agenda

Times Colonist
March 30, 2009

Victoria police Chief Jamie Graham will address the forum, which will also include representatives from city council, the Downtown Victoria Business Association and the Coalition to End Homelessness. “We’re going to have an opportunity for these people to get up … and just talk about what the issues are and how they’re handling them,” said Robert Randall, chair of the Downtown Residents Association.

Victoria’s downtown is much like a huge “dysfunctional” family with many competing interests, Randall said.

“It’s really complex. In some ways it’s getting a lot better. We’re seeing a lot of really positive work from some of angles. We’re seeing more residents in the downtown and lot of good businesses opening up so a lot of the dead parts of downtown that you really didn’t want to go to are now walkable.

“The needle exchange is gone, so Cormorant Street is now a place you no longer avoid, but at the same time, Pandora’s getting a bit dicey although it’s still safe,” Randall said.

On the down side, Randall said, the downtown is beginning to see the emergence of a new breed of more aggressive drug dealers.

“That’s a bit worrying. So [the downtown] is going in both directions,” he said. “Overall I’m optimistic but I’m troubled about these continuing trends.

Event: On The Front Lines: Community Solutions for Homelessness and Social Issues

The Downtown Residents’ Association is presenting a special event for all residents of Downtown:

On The Front Lines: Community Solutions for Homelessness and Social Issues

Monday, March 30, 7 p.m – 9 p.m.
City Hall Antechamber, Centennial Square

A meeting for residents of Downtown/Harris Green to hear about some ground-breaking solutions for homelessness, crime, safety and other social issues that concern us all. We’ve gathered the experts who will be able to answer your questions. Join us for Silk Road Tea and snacks and an evening of informative discussion. Open to all DRA members. Please bring a neighbour!

Schedule:

Introduction by Robert Randall, DRA

Vic PD Chief Jamie Graham and Inspector Jamie Pearce on Downtown Security

Councillor Charlayne Thornton-Joe on the Mayor’s Task Force and our homeless population

Jill Clements of the Greater Victoria Coalition to End Homelessness on the Coalition, its goals and achievements

Ken Kelly of the Downtown Victoria Business Association on the Clean and Safe Team, Con Air and the Community Court Program

Question and answer session follows

I hope to see you there! This event is free and no pre-registration is required.

Pandora’s Box

A Times-Colonist reporter phoned me this afternoon wanting to know what Downtown residents felt about the Our Place shelter now that it’s had a few weeks to settle into its new neighbourhood. Apparently the neighbouring businesses are upset at the level of social disorder on the block.

I explained to him that while the DRA supports the shelter concept, some our members are frustrated with the social disorder in the 1000 block Pandora. Most of us appreciate the necessity of a shelter, in particular the myriad of services it provides, from hot showers and laundry to meals and counselling services. But many of us are asking: at what price do these services get delivered? Pandora Street, with its broad avenue bisected by a wide public green space, is a primary pedestrian corridor for Fernwood residents coming into the Downtown core. Some feel like they are “running the gauntlet” simply by coming into town.

The problem often isn’t the shelter users, it includes the hangers-on. Friends and associates of Our Place “clients”, some of whom are involved in the drug trade, a situation some of us feel will be exacerbated if a proposed needle exchange moves in next door.

So what’s the solution? This is what I struggled with as I talked to the reporter. We can’t move the shelter. We can’t arrest them for merely lingering on streetcorners. Simply put, we can do the following:

- Spread the facilities around the city. Don’t create a social ghetto.

- Be aggressive when it comes to giving the homeless opportunities to improve their lives. Discourage charities that sustain anti-social lifestyles. The primary goal is to re-integrate them into society.

- The worst of the worst must be taken out of their environment. These are people suffering from extreme mental illness and addiction issues. For many of these “dual diagnosis” individuals institutional treatment is the most humane gift we can give them.

- Justice reform (including Community Courts) must be implemented so that those that prey on others and deserve punishment actually get it.

- Specifically dealing with Harris Green, the City could offer incentives so that present commercial operations stay and new retail and residential opportunities become more attractive. This could include giving developers a tax holiday or bonus density in return for bringing life into this half-empty block.

That’s just a start. There’s a lot more we could do but the most important thing is not allowing conditions on Pandora Street get worse.

Needle exchange neighbour to Our Place?

Word came late March 6 via a story on the Times Colonist website that the needle exchange currently being forced out of its location on Cormorant Street may end up in the St. John Ambulance house next door to the new Our Place shelter.

This was surprising news to those of us on the Downtown Residents’ Association; we’re still contemplating the implications of the proposed move of the Streetlink Shelter to Ellice Street.