Photo by Curtis Galbraith

By Curtis Galbraith

Parkside Inn

City official says emergency calls to the Parkside Inn are down

Aug 7, 2019 | 2:22 PM

City officials say police and EMS calls are down at the Parkside Inn since a supportive housing project was installed at that location.

Director of Protective and Social Services Chris Manuel spoke to a city hall committee meeting Tuesday.

He says rules like no visitors and bag checks are in place.

“It (has) got a fenced perimeter around it. It’s access-controlled. (There is) ongoing staff support and engagement. There’s a number of things that are in place that certainly reduce the risks.”

Manuel adds the residents themselves are also dealing with the police, hospital, and EMS fewer times.

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“Since the program started, they’ve seen approximately a 50 per cent reduction in their engagement in those services than prior to them participating in the program.”

Manuel told the meeting that the average age of people in this program is 40. 57 per cent are men, 88 per cent had been chronically homeless, and all have been diagnosed with some sort of mental health condition.

He adds they hope to find a permanent home for this program.

“It’s clear that there’s an ongoing community need for supportive housing. It’s just not believed, at this point, that the Parkside Inn location, which was an interim and pilot project, would be the permanent location. What we’re looking for there is a purpose-built facility to specifically house these sorts of projects.”

Manuel says when a permanent home can be built depends on funding from the provincial and federal governments.

Manuel adds the Northreach Society has taken over operation of the program from the Canadian Mental Health Association on an interim basis. A request for proposals is out for a new operator.

He also told the meeting a detailed report would be back before the committee sometime this fall.