St. Lawrence Centre's Jared Gossen accepts a cheque from a United Way Alberta Northwest (photo courtesy of United Way)

By Liam Verster

Safety and Diversion worker

Federal grant provides more support for St. Lawrence Centre through new position

Dec 30, 2020 | 2:23 PM

The St. Lawrence Centre has been awarded a $28,600 grant through the Emergency Community Fund, which is being used to finance a new temporary Safety and Diversion position.

The grant was awarded in November, and on December 22, United Way Alberta Northwest, who has been in charge of distributing the funds locally, held a cheque presentation with the St. Lawrence Centre.

Jared Gossen, the Project Lead for the St. Lawrence Centre, says with the increase in people seeking the drop-in supports over the past several years, coupled with the COVID-19 pandemic and it’s effects on people, the grant and new position is a welcome addition.

He says the role of the Safety and Diversion worker will help take some pressure off of the drop-in services, as this individual is tasked with working with people with complex behaviours and needs.

“What we saw was we were trying to support the say 30 or 40 people who are in the space, and then we have some additional folks come in who really do need some additional help, and now they’re actually getting it,” says Gossen.

He adds people with complex behaviours and needs, whether it’s related to drug use or mental health issues, are often less likely to be able to access services in drop-in environments. However, with this new position, there is extra help for those people.

“Just by having that additional worker we can run some interference, do some additional crisis intervention, and basically increase the likelihood of someone, even if they’re in chaotic drug use or mental health crisis, be able to remain housed in the shelter system.”

He adds that it won’t always be perfect and some people still won’t be able to access the services, but it improves the accessibility for many individuals in need.

The new worker is also tasked with helping direct the individual to outside services or programs, to make sure they are accessing the proper treatments and supports.

“It’s the difference of someone coming in to the St. Lawrence Centre or the shelter system and not being picked up in the first couple days in so far as what help they need. Now we’re able to get right on top of that in a more effective way.”

The funding will only support the position through March, but Gossen says he’s happy to have the additional support over the winter months.

“Without being able to increase staffing levels, you just can’t endure certain extreme and complex needs in drop-in (services). Having that extra person on hand makes it easier to provide a few additional hours of shelter for someone who is really in a rough spot.”

He says the reality of street-level services is that without the proper resources, they wouldn’t be able to offer their supports to those in need.

“Without the increase of support from the Province, the City and community-based funders like the United Way, we would be in a really rough spot this winter, but there’s hope now.”

The new position has already been filled, and Gossen says if they’re able to have this position remain a part of the St. Lawrence Centre in the future they will, but at this time it’s not known whether or not they will have enough funding in the future to maintain the role.