SCS caused more harm to the community

By Letter to the Editor on July 17, 2020.

This letter is a collaboration by a few people who have been concerned about the goings on of the SCS here in Lethbridge.

Little too late – they had two years to do something. And instead of building community connections and partnerships they were more worried about funding and to rake in money on behalf of individuals struggling with addictions.

After the first kid was pricked by a dirty uncapped needle (which many city councillors – all but two, Blaine Hyggen and Joe Mauro – didn’t even see the problem there) needles should have stayed on site. They continued to be distributed. More kids, professionals and random individuals have been pricked. The mayor advised if you’re not going to quit whining about it – leave. No. We stand together as a community for all residents.

This was not harm reduction; in fact, it created more harm to our community including to the service users who were completely enabled to stay addicted and encouraged to use illegal drugs.

Ask Doug Hamilton what kind of neighbours they’ve been. I mean over $100,000 in damage, all the additional security measures taken to keep the staff safe. To the assaults on him and his staff. Where was the outrage? To the young lady who recently died right outside their doors – where was the outrage?

Suddenly, ARCHES staff speaks out against dysfunction? Why? As if they didn’t already know the toxicity that place was. Hiring new grads with zero frontline experience. Great job.

Police and EMS calls increased to a disgraceful per cent. Caused extensive burnout to our frontline workers. ARCHES didn’t care. We do, though.

The statistics of external referrals – questionable.

The Housing First team statistics – questionable.

The number of participants attending the SCS – when funding is based on numbers, should those numbers not be audited?

But keep ticking statistic boxes for more money? Should be questioned at the very least.

Hiring a non-Indigenous woman to teach cultural programming – disrespectful to the Indigenous people.

Hiring a non-Indigenous man to oversee Indigenous Recovery programming and cultural programming – disrespectful to the Indigenous people.

Dysfunction at its finest and a shameful organization profiting off homelessness, addiction and mental health.

Where’s Stacey Bourque these days anyway? She’s sure been quiet.

Layne Whipple

Lethbridge