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Improving the core Print E-mail
Written by -- Editor Dave Paulson   
Monday, 25 August 2008
Any discussion about improving the image and the realities of downtown Prince George must include a plan to centralize the myriad social services currently scattered around the city core.
As reported in Monday's Citizen, the Central Interior Native Health Centre has been working on the concept of moving most if not all social service organizations under one roof. It would include putting agencies and programs such as those for addicts (including the Needle Exchange), the homeless and people with mental health issues in one location.
The problems facing downtown Prince George aren't dissimilar to those of any city, and they are primarily issues of safety.
The most visible aim of centralizing those services is that by putting them under one roof, it might draw many of those services' clients away from the front and back doors of downtown retailers.
Downtown Prince George, the name of the business improvement association of merchants, is behind the plan because it sees it as part of the answer to cleaning up downtown's people problem.
It's only one step in a maze of challenges facing downtown, however.
Another involves providing an enhanced system of helping those on the street who really want help through rehabilitation and counselling -- a costly venture but one that has to be a higher priority with governments.
As with any proposal of this kind, the location will be controversial. Not-in-my-back-yard syndrome inevitably rears its head and it's no mystery understanding why. It should be downtown, but where can such a facility be located that doesn't negatively impact neighbouring businesses?
One logical approach is to study the experience of other cities that have tried this and learn what has and hasn't worked.
There are no easy answers but it's encouraging for downtown and the city in general that plans are afoot, because simply relying on past practice won't solve anything.
-- Editor Dave Paulson
Comments (10)add
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written by MustBMe , August 26, 2008 (10:41:10 PM)
Why not set up an institution in a fairly remote rural environment? Where the attendees dont have ready access to the environment that is enabling thier problems? A survival camp where they need to work as a group to make things easier on them is a good start. Could be done for less money than supplying another unsuccessful institution in downtown PG.
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Hmmm...
written by allniter , August 27, 2008 (03:19:31 AM)
That's a really good idea, MustBMe--I could see it working well. If addicts are taken away from temptation for as long as it takes to get it out of their systems, their success rate could conceivably be higher. The legal system is always talking about 'rehailitation'. This would be a way for them to put their money where their mouths are, and I for one would like to see my tax dollars used this way, too.

Have a good one, MBM!
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Speaking of Which...
written by D.K. Ross , August 27, 2008 (04:59:05 PM)
I haven't heard anything about the old radar base for awhile. Weren't certain parties talking about turning it into a sort of boot/reeducation camp for these folks? It sounded like a great idea at the time but I left town for work for a few months. What happened? It sounded ideal!
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written by dhood , August 27, 2008 (05:55:02 PM)
I believe the old ranch at Baldy Hughs is now a rehab camp for adults but I don't know who funds it.
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written by dhood , August 27, 2008 (05:58:33 PM)
Is that the same place as Hutda Lake where they sent the alcoholics after they got nailed for impaired the third time?
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written by D.K. Ross , August 27, 2008 (06:16:21 PM)
I am pretty sure that Hudta Lake is a camp for bad little boys. They may put their inmates through the same things that we should be doing with these adult offenders but they deal with juveniles, only.
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written by gloriaharding , August 27, 2008 (07:31:24 PM)
Like I have said before these health services paticularly Northern Health need to start working together and come up with a plan that. Dave thank you for acknowledging what I have said all along and that is that there are other "community models" to follow such as Kamloops, Maple Ridge, and Kelowna have had some success dealing with the problems that drug addiction and crime can bring.
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written by itsjeeplady , August 28, 2008 (09:15:09 AM)
Why do these services have to be downtown. Why not group these people and bring the services to them? I know they have mobile people who travel around to the escort agencies bringing them shots and condoms etc. Why Not...Put all the mentally ill people into a big vacant building (renovated of course)somewhere near the hospital so they can access the services they need. Put all the homeless people a little further out onto a farm type location where they can grow their food and come and go as they please but wouldn't frequent the down town because it would be too far to travel on foot. The third group should be the addicted and "light" criminals they should be taken even further out into a forest type location and kept there for a minimum of two years where they can get clean, learn a trade online and be "released" back into society but with employment. The harsh criminals well...I think they should be dropped off somewhere up north with a sleeping bag and a knife. Let em duke it out...if they make it back I'm sure they won't do that again.
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Update
written by Rick2 , August 31, 2008 (03:34:02 PM)
For DK Ross and dhood, just an update. Baldy Hughes is operating as a family-based rehab pilot project. Some growing pains but definately has some potential for the right clients. Hutda has been closed for years. The penal colony idea is not too far off except that it would only work for convicted criminals, voluntary admissions or court ordered incarcerations.
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written by travhops , September 01, 2008 (09:21:55 AM)
What about the Native Friendship Centre? Don't they have a lot of empty space in that building they could rent? I think putting all these services under one roof is a marvelous idea. It couldn't be rural as it has to be somewhere readily accessible to everyone and you have to remember not everyone utilizing these services is a street person.
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