Campbell River council members are throwing their support behind a community cleanup and harm reduction awareness-raising project.
This week, they supported a $35,000 grant application by the City of Campbell River, in partnership with Island Health and the Campbell River Community Action Team, to fund the project.
Grant funding would support community dialogue around what harm reduction is and why it’s the recommended approach to support people who are using substances to stay safe.
The project would also work with people in vulnerable situations, such as the homeless, to develop and deliver the Get the Point pilot program.
The program would aim to clean up needles and other discarded items and litter from public areas.
It would also provide training, experience and employment for those who may use, or who have used, substances and people who are or are at risk of homelessness.
Similar programs exist in other communities, and these would be researched and referenced when developing Get the Point if the grant application is successful.
Councillor Ron Kerr said the project will help open doors for people in challenging situations.
“This grant will help develop self-pride in those in the community experiencing challenges, supporting training and employment opportunities, and it’s also an opportunity to work with the people rather than as we do currently right now, work around them, so I certainly support this.”
