Outreach team to offer 24/7 mental health and addictions services in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.
CBC
Addiction and homelessness advocates in Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., are breathing a sigh of relief over the creation of a new 24/7 outreach and wellness response team.
The deployment of this team is part of a two-year, $3.5 million federal investment through the Emergency Treatment Fund that was initially announced by Sault MP Terry Sheehan last year.
As part of the plan, the District of Sault Ste. Marie Social Services Administration Board has purchased three outreach and mobile wellness vehicles — including two SUVs and a former ambulance.
Outreach teams from the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Algoma will use the vehicles around the clock to offer low-barrier access to medical, mental health, addiction, harm reduction and housing support for vulnerable people.
The outreach and wellness project is an extension of the Community Wellness Bus, which the Algoma Ontario Health Team has run since 2021.
The bus provides similar services but only operates four days a week for several hours during the daytime.
Through the new initiative, CMHA Algoma said its team can respond to wellness calls and offer assessments and referrals to community-based programs at all hours of the day and night.
Teams will also have harm reduction supplies, first aid, hygiene products and snacks and refreshments on hand.
Few groups are happier to hear this news than Save Our Young Adults (SOYA), a non-profit grassroots group in the Sault that has been providing food, clothing and referrals to hundreds who are struggling with addiction and homelessness each week.
SOYA president and founder Connie Raynor-Elliott said her organization also oversees a “street team” that goes out at night to assist people in finding shelter, providing rides and ensuring the unhoused are warm and safe.
She told CBC that the new 24/7 outreach and wellness team will ease their workload tremendously.
“It is so wonderful where it’s not going to be us,” she said. “They’re going to have proper street teams — three vehicles. It’s great.”
“Can you imagine how much money it’s going to save? Fewer police and ambulance calls, more jobs in our city for trained individuals. This is huge. I can retire soon now.”
Raynor-Elliott expressed some concerns that the initiative is only earmarked for two years.
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