It was a lovely day in Kitchener. The Southwestern Ontario city, home to 300,000 residents, was basking in a pleasant stretch of summer weather. Sunlight sparkled off the windows of the newly built condo towers that have emerged in recent years as part of the region’s tech boom. Groups of students clad in shorts and sunglasses strolled along King Street, the main avenue experiencing gentrification.
However, during my visit earlier this month, it didn’t take long to spot signs of Kitchener’s ongoing crisis. On one corner, a middle-aged woman chatted with a brick wall. A block away, a slender young man slumped against a building holding a crack pipe.
A year ago, I came to the city to report on the upcoming closure of its supervised drug-use site-a place where individuals could use drugs safely with staff available to assist if an overdose occurred. Accompanied by a photographer, I spent the day speaking with concerned staff and clients who were anxious about what would happen after the site shut down.
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Graffiti at the Victoria Street encampment highlights the dire state of homelessness in this Southwestern Ontario city.
Now I was back to see how things had changed. I found both positive and negative news. Overdose rates have decreased and services for those struggling with addiction and homelessness have grown; however, new potent drugs are making their way into circulation and Canada’s ongoing opioid crisis is still painfully evident.
My first stop was at Kitchener’s largest homeless encampment-a dismal collection of tents, tarps, broken sofas, fire pits, and garbage-situated across from the train station where commuters board trains for their 100-kilometre journey into Toronto. Kitchener has been attempting to dismantle this encampment so they can build a new transit hub, but these efforts are currently tied up in legal battles.
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Mallary Tarrant, 38, says that since the supervised drug-use site closed, she has seen more people sharing needles.
I met Mallary Tarrant, age 38 while she sifted through clothing dropped off by someone willing to help. She needed something dry after rain fell overnight; she had ended up seeking refuge inside a smelly portable toilet during the downpour.
It was unfortunate that authorities forced the supervised drug-use site to close because it “was really a help,” she said. She used it to test her drugs and get sterile equipment for using them safely. Since its closure, she’s noticed more individuals sharing needles-a practice that spreads disease.
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Shawna Aldridge, 29, says Kitchener does not have enough programs to help drug users get sober.
Another woman rummaging through dry clothes had another perspective. Shawna Aldridge, age 29 stated it was wrong to have opened that site initially; what drug users need instead is access to resources for recovery. According to her statement: “We can’t get better if there’s no rehabs.”
The city’s supervised site was among ten ordered closed by provincial officials due to its proximity to schools or daycare centers. Recently Health Minister Sylvia Jones declared that funding would also cease for seven remaining sites regardless of location.
Progressive Conservative Premier Doug Ford has expressed that such sites “encourage people” towards drug use while leaving streets littered with needles. His government is adopting a different strategy by establishing “recovery-focused” hubs throughout communities within Ontario-and Kitchener is included among them.
Kitchener has been trying to clear the Victoria Street encampment so it can build a new transit hub in its fast-developing downtown.
Sixty-five individuals work with HART-the homelessness and addiction recovery treatment hub-in various roles ranging from needle clean-up services to mental health support initiatives. Instead of consolidating HART programs under one roof as originally planned , Waterloo region decided on collaborating with existing organizations for broader service offerings instead. One program launched back in March offers twelve transitional housing beds aimed at helping those transitioning towards permanent living situations.
Regional officials mentioned they couldn’t show me any client-related services due privacy concerns nor did they provide anyone available for an interview regarding these matters.
Upon leaving the encampment , I crossed over towards facility focused specifically on assisting those without homes living on streets around Kitchener.
Operated b y non-pro fit organization called Working Centre , i t houses medical care facilities offering hot meals free o f charge. It also includes designated space where individuals can use drugs safely under supervision from trained personnel who are prepared t o call emergency services when necessary. Some similar establishments persist thanks t o federal exemptions given for harm reduction efforts recentlyOpen th is photo in gallery:
Fr ed erick Bygrave ,39 , mentions he lost count o f acquaintances who passed away from substance abuse once fatalities hit sixty.
Frederick Bygrave ,39 sat outside wearing hospital identification bracelet following his recent hospitalization due overdose complications. He stated he stopped counting friends who died from substances once toll reached sixty fatalities
According him ; closing down nearby Duke street’s supervised facility w as incorrect decision causing increased outdoor consumption behavior among users
Just feet away half dozen men gathered beneath shelter openly smoking substances – soon afterwards ambulances & fire trucks arrived flashing lights attending individual recovering post-collapse
Mr. Bygrave feels doubtful regarding government plans directing more people toward addiction treatments stating ; “I think it’s very hardto makea decision like that if you haven’t had any experienceinthis lifestyle. That’ s like gettingabutcher togiveanopiniononbrainsurgery.”Open this photo ingallery : Openthisphotoingallery :First responders attendto overdose callafteraman collapsedacrossthestreetfromtheencampment. Althoughoverdos e rates inthecityhavefallenandservicesforpeoplesufferingfromaddictionandhomelessnesshaveexpanded, potentnewdrugsincirculationposeareneweddanger.
Myfinalstopwasacaféjustoff King Street. I satdownwith Joeand Stephanie Mancini, codirectorsof Working Centre.
While Ms. Mancini cautionsittime reveal HART hubs’effectiveness, theadditionalprovincialfundingmeans“moreresourcesforthepeopleinmorelocations.”
Conversely, shewarnedthedrugcrisisseemsto beworsening. Togetherwithfentanyla mainkilleryearsago, currentdrug suppliescontainadditiveslike medetomidine, powerfulveterinarytranquilizer.
“We’rewatchingpeopleusewalkawayfallontheirface,”Ms. Mancini said.“Andthey’resleepingforhours.”
Justaroundcorner, a manwearingsocks layunmovingonthecoldconcrete sidewalk flannel sheet drapedovertopofhim. THE DECIBEL”Asnumberpe opleexperiencinghomelessnessgrowsincitiesacross Canada sobedoencampments-groupslivingintentsparksunderoverpasses wherever theycanfindspace. Globe ist Marcus Geeexplainshow Londonisbringingcityservicestoencampments, andhowcompassionateapproach istestpotentiallynewmodelforothermunicipalities.”
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Thenextday Iwentbacktoencam pm ent. Parkedtherewasavanfrom Sanguen Health Centre whichusedtorunoldsupervi sedsite. Thecommunity-basedagency continuesofferingservic esforpeopleonsocietysmarginsincludingnursingcare, housinghelpandhepatitis Ctesting. Itsmobilevanhasequipmentthatchecksdrugsforstrengthandtoxicity, anditsemployeeshandoutsupplies suchasneedlesandpipes.
Sanguen’s Violet Umanetz managerofharm reductionoutreach told methat sinceclosure, someindividualshavebeenusingdrugsin unsafeconditions. Insteadbeingimmediatelyavailabletohelp,” we’re running, we’re calling911, we’retryingtofigureoutwho’sgotwhatwhere. Thetrauma’sbackforeverybodyalloveragain, jus taspeoplesare startingtoheal. It ‘sabsolutely awful.”
Fortunately overdose numbers seem improving. Rabia Banaassociate medicalofficerofhealthfor Waterloo sharedthatinthe12months followingtheclosureopioidrelatedcalls toe mergencyservicesdroppedby15percentwhileopioidrelatedemergency department visitsfellby16percent. Additionallythese trendsalignwithw hatgenerallyoccurredprovincewide.
However Ms. Umanetzmentionedone reasonlowernumbersobserved Kitch enermightbeduepeopleusingdrugsprivatelyleadingundocumentedoverdoseseventsoccurred.
Openthisphotoingallery:Thefutureoftheencamp mentandsurvivorsremainunknownasissuelocked incourtprocesses.Myfinalstopwasacaféjustoff King Street. I satdownwith Joeand Stephanie Mancini, codirectorsof Working Centre.
While Ms. Mancini cautionsittime reveal HART hubs’effectiveness, theadditionalprovincialfundingmeans“moreresourcesforthepeopleinmorelocations.”
Conversely, shewarnedthedrugcrisisseemsto beworsening. Togetherwithfentanyla mainkilleryearsago, currentdrug suppliescontainadditiveslike medetomidine, powerfulveterinarytranquilizer.
“We’rewatchingpeopleusewalkawayfallontheirface,”Ms. Mancini said.“Andthey’resleepingforhours.”
Justaroundcorner, a manwearingsocks layunmovingonthecoldconcrete sidewalk flannel sheet drapedovertopofhim. THE DECIBEL”Asnumberpe opleexperiencinghomelessnessgrowsincitiesacross Canada sobedoencampments-groupslivingintentsparksunderoverpasses wherever theycanfindspace. Globe ist Marcus Geeexplainshow Londonisbringingcityservicestoencampments, andhowcompassionateapproach istestpotentiallynewmodelforothermunicipalities.”
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