Fredericton mobile outreach van to run 24/7 thanks to federal funding
Health Canada funding will expand a service that's been running in Fredericton for about a decade
An outreach team run out of a Sprinter van is now working around the clock thanks to funding through a federal overdose prevention fund.
"With the teamwork and the smarts that we have here in Fredericton, along with the support that we've received from the federal government, I am confident that this project is going to have a meaningful life changing impact," said Fredericton Mayor Kate Rogers.
The funding will expand the hours of the mobile outreach team, which helps to connect those living rough to services, administers and distributes naloxone kits, and provides addictions support. The van was purchased by the City of Fredericton and is run by the John Howard Society of Fredericton.
Six new staff members will be hired and trained in mental-health first aid, trauma informed care, overdose prevention and suicide intervention.
John Barrow, executive director of the John Howard Society, said the team now works with about 200 people a day and 30 people a night. The daytime service has been in place for nearly a decade.
"I think the biggest thing is to meet people where they're at," Barrow said. "A lot of times when they're requesting intervention or support services, the time to do it is in the moment."
"We've got a team now that can respond to folks who are directly on the streets at the point when they want the intervention. That's the time to strike."
The funding comes from the Emergency Treatment Fund and is one of four programs in Atlantic Canada receiving a total of $2.8 million. Miramichi, Amherst, Nova Scotia, and St. John's are the other three communities receiving funding for community programs, but neither the Fredericton event nor the news release included any details about what those programs are.
The Fredericton portion of the funding is $578,100.
Federal Health Minister Marjorie Michelle was in Fredericton for the announcement and confirmed the funding is only for one year, after which the program will be "reassessed."
"We don't know, you know, in a year where we will be with this crisis, is it going to improve? Is it going to be a big one? So we will adapt," she said.
"We need to understand talking about mental health challenges, those crises, it cannot be solved in one day. We collectively have to improve access for people to get not only emergency [services], but also treatment and what works for them."
Rogers was quick to say the City of Fredericton will enure the program receives the funding it needs.
"I'm certain it will demonstrate that it has had an impact," she said. "When you work with a trusted organization like John Howard, I think we all work together to see how we can continue to support that project. We have been supporting them, locally, provincially and I know the federal government will now see proof of concept in this work."
Roger said she is "confident that we will see ongoing support for this project."
The outreach program's daytime hours are currently funded by the provincial government.
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