Warm pyjamas, a shower, a snack and a safe place to sleep are now available for those that need it thanks to Prince George’s new sobering centre.
The centre is a 10-bed facility operated by Carrier Sekani Family Services (CSFS) in partnership with the province and Northern Health, at 1133 Second Ave.
It provides a safe space for people 18 and older who are intoxicated from alcohol and/or other substances and unable to safely care for themselves.
“I think this is an amazing opportunity for a lot of people in the community,” said supervisor Sue Nelson.
“We have a wonderful, amazing amount of staff that have background and experiences in the resources in community and that's such a benefit.”
Nelson said when a person comes to the centre they will be asked a few questions, they can put their belongings in a bin, have a snack, visit with the staff and wellness workers, and then can rest in the bed area.
There are also pyjamas, showers and laundry available on-site.
People can refer themselves or they can be referred by a family member, supportive care person, health-care providers, emergency services or other community partners but they have to be 18 years of age or older.
Nelson said when people visit the centre there’s also an opportunity for staff to refer people to other services at CSFS or even to other agencies and support services in the community.
“We are very, very happy for this facility to be here and finally opening to serve our population in this area that needs a really safe place to be when they're in a vulnerable position, such as when they're intoxicated with drugs or alcohol,” said Dr. Tracy Day, CSFS’s clinical director for substance use and addictions services.
“We just really feel it's important to meet people where they are and support them in what they want, how they want to move forward, and to really walk beside someone.”
In addition to referral resources, Dr. Day said CSFS has an outreach nurse coming in on a daily basis that will be able to provide primary health care needs, prescriptions for opioid replacement therapy, or referrals to escalation of care if that is what’s needed.
The centre is currently open overnight, four nights a week from Thursday to Sunday but hours will be gradually added until the centre is able to support clients seven days a week, 24 hours a day.
Clients, depending on when they come in, typically stay up to seven hours but when the centre begins operating on a 24/7 schedule clients will be able to stay for no more than 23 hours.
“We have a brand new program with brand new staff, and a building that's just been recently modified quite a bit, so we really want to make sure this program is sustainable, that the patients are very safe when they come here, and that our staff is very well prepared to deal with all of the programming and things that could happen, so we are doing a phased approach,” explained Dr. Day.
She also noted that while the centre is focused on the population it most often serves which is the unhoused population and people without places to stay, the facility is not exclusive to any one group.
“This is not a facility that is exclusively for our Carrier Sekani patients, our Indigenous or homeless populations but this is a facility that is open to the whole community so we welcome anyone to come here.”
The province is providing $1.8 million over two years in funding for the facility as part of its investments in substance-use and treatment services.
