AWAC asks council for communication, collaboration on recovery work

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Article by Prince George Citizen: https://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/local-news/awac-asks-council-for-communication-collaboration-on-recovery-work-11979860

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A local non-profit asked Prince George city council for more communication and collaboration on downtown issues at a Monday, March 9 meeting.

First on the agenda was a presentation from executive director Connie Abe and president Lorna Waghorn-Kidd of the Association Advocating for Women and Community.

Waghorn-Kidd outlined their programming, which includes sober living facilities, an emergency shelter, supportive housing and other programming for local women and girls.

She said that they were having a communication problem, having sent a letter to city council last October and again around the beginning of the year without having received a response to either.

During their presentation, the pair said that downtown Prince George is facing several visible issues like public substance use, property damage and other disorder incidents that stem from deeper systemic issues like homelessness, addiction, trauma and other health needs that aren’t currently being met.

They said that their philosophy isn’t just to contain these issues long-term, but to move forward on improving them.

Abe said that housing leads to stability that helps in turn address other issues being seen in downtown Prince George.

While stabilizing people’s immediate situation by providing immediate support, Abe said that long-term work is needed to transform a person’s life.

Promoting recovery from the underlying issues can lead to reduced strain on public safety, increased employment and training opportunities, increased engagement with the community and long-term urban revitalization.

The forced displacement of encampments, like with the disbanding of Moccasin Flats last year, “disrupts connections between service providers and individuals, hindering trust and recovery processes.”

Moving people from one place and another, Abe said, does nothing to solve underlying issues.

She said the city’s current recovery system has gaps that make it difficult for people to transition from stabilization to long-term transformation of their circumstances.

Abe said if the city wants to see fewer calls to emergency services and fewer people on the streets, three things are needed: incorporate recovery into public safety strategies, support for enhanced recovery programming and involving frontline agencies in municipal planning to address the root causes of issues facing the community.

After the presentation, Mayor Simon Yu thanked AWAC for the work it has done since it was incorporated in 1994 and suggested that their concerns be forwarded to the city’s Standing Committee on Intergovernmental Affairs for further discussion.

Waghorn-Kidd said their letter from last October asked to be able to work with committees and they requested to address council since they never heard back.

She handed a copy of the October letter to city manager Walter Babicz, who said he would get city staff to respond to it.

“I want to thank you for the work you do downtown, but let’s include all the partners,” Waghorn-Kidd said.

Coun. Brian Skakun said someone close to him used AWAC’s services a couple of years ago and thanked the presenters for what they do for the community.

He asked them what happens to people who are brought in from out of town for AWAC services and then discharged.

Abe said most of those people stay here in Prince George because they don’t want to go back to the source of their problems, but they help those who want to return go home and stay in contact during that transition.

Coun. Trudy Klassen asked for more information on why some clients don’t want to go back to their home communities. Abe said sometimes clients going back to their family wouldn’t be a healthy environment while others have trouble finding work.

One of their clients, Abe said, is from Alberta. She added that many clients who have gone through AWAC’s Olive Branch program are still sober and still keep in contact with the organization about their success.

Coun. Garth Frizzell apologized for the lack of response to their letters and asked the presenters to reiterate their key requests so that he can bring them up with the intergovernmental committee.

Coun. Susan Scott praised AWAC’s work, including events like Coldest Night of the Year, and said partnering with the organization is a chance to spotlight the issues they help deal with not just locally but nationally.

Coun. Tim Bennett said that no matter how hard levels of government try, he doubted that they would be able to match the impact created by the number of shelter stays provided by AWAC. He asked what advocacy is needed from the intergovernmental committee on funding for groups like theirs.

While funding has been stable, Abe said, a chance to how union contracts are allocated will have an impact on partnerships with the federal government.

She added that while sobering services are funded, their funding doesn’t extend to counselling and mental health services that their clients need. Many of the proceeds from their fundraisers go towards funding mental health services.

The mayor said the city meets regularly with Northern Health and he would help make sure that lines of communication are maintained between the health authority and AWAC.

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