Larger van will help improve Diversion Outreach Team’s operations

VAN POSSIBLE WITH HELP OF SHIA, DOWNTOWN BRZ, COLLEGE FORD LINCOLN

A mobile response team that helps people dealing with street-level addiction and public intoxication has a new set of wheels to help them do their job.

The Diversion Outreach Team, which is operated as part of the Canadian Mental Health Association HomeBASE program, announced last week the procurement of a new, larger van for their operations.

“This has been absolutely amazing,” said Deborah Chenery, Executive Director with CMHA. “We have a number of individuals who have mobility issues. This is so much easier for them to get in and out of the van.”

Wade King has worked with the Diversion Outreach Team since its inception in 2015. He said the new van is a big improvement over previous vehicles.

“Our old vehicles were inadequate size-wise and for reliability,” he said. “This gives us the option to carry plenty more people and to be reliable and on the streets six days a week.”

The DOT provides transportation for individuals to access shelter and health services. In the last year, the team has seen a significant increase in requests for service while working alongside emergency services to create a more efficient system.

Procurement of the vehicle was made possible by contributions from several program sponsors, including Social Housing in Action, Downtown Lethbridge BRZ, and College Ford Lincoln.

“This really helps out the whole process,” said Gary Bowie, SHIA committee chair. “We’re really grateful for the folks who have moved this forward and made it possible. It wouldn’t work out in our community if we didn’t have good agencies who come forward and work things through for us.”

“It’s been exponentially better, having this program,” said Melissa Johnson, marketing co-ordinator for the BRZ.

“For our board members, when asked for contributions, it was a nobrainer for them. They’ve seen nothing but positivity. They’ve had nothing but positive experiences working with the Diversion Outreach Team, as well as the City of Lethbridge facilitating this.”

There are a number of costs involved to municipalities with homeless populations. Additionally, there can be issues between people who are intoxicated or who have addiction issues and local businesses in those areas. The DOT program helps get those people off the streets where they are vulnerable and provides opportunities to make connections with the services and programs they need.

There have been more than 10,000 interventions by the DOT since 2015, equating to between 700 and 800 per month. The program operates six days a week, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

King said the biggest benefit to the new vehicle is the size, which will allow for more people to be picked up at a time. It also makes getting into and out of the vehicle easier, particularly with people who have mobility issues.

“Being able to transport six or seven people at a time is a time-saver for us, rather than two or three at a time,” he said.

“When we are getting people off the street and getting them where they need to go, we need to have a vehicle we can actually transport them in.”