By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

Light shining through ‘chaos’ at Safe Harbour

Jan 17, 2019 | 2:21 PM

The winter warming centre at Red Deer’s Safe Harbour has had its fair share of visitors over the last few months.

The building opened a month early due to an unseasonably cold start to fall, and for the second straight year, city council gave Safe Harbour the go-ahead to offer 20 overflow beds.

Executive Director and Captain Kath Hoffman says there are between 80 and 100 people daily through the warming centre, which is open 24/7. There are also 14-20 people in the extra beds every night.

Asked if these numbers are surprising, Hoffman says no.

“The warming centre is showing us really clearly about the need for us to do something different. What we have is a band-aid in the sense that the warming centre was put together as a winter shelter for people during the day, initially,” she says. “It’s very clear that we have to start thinking outside the box and listening to what these people need.”

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Hoffman sees both negatives and positives in the current situation.

“I’m really discouraged by what I see at the warming centre, but I’m encouraged by the amount of people that are on board in our health and shelter-related ministries, how close of an eye they’re keeping on it and how much they’re trying to help,” she says.

“We can’t think Red Deer is terrible, because this is everywhere and all of those front-line agencies are scrambling to do the best with limited resources. There’s good work happening and we’ve got a whole different landscape now than when we put that warming centre in our parking lot.”

While operations at the warming centre continue until the end of March, Hoffman says Safe Harbour is maintaining talks with its funding and provincial partners.

“We’re all keeping a very close eye on these numbers and the people and what’s happening around Safe Harbour and Turning Point right now. The people that we need are at the table, listening to us, trying to help us,” says Hoffman. “I know this is not exclusive to Red Deer; every city in the country is having the same conversations. As in any crisis as, we try to respond to it, and we find out what we may or may not have to do.”

“We’re just trying to get it the best we can in the middle of all the chaos.”

In addition to those using the warming centre and MATS program, there have been nearly 5500 consumptions by 240 unique clients at the Turning Point-operated temporary overdose prevention site, which is also on Safe Harbour property. Staff members there have responded to 123 overdoses and numbers continue to trend upward monthly since opening last October. Hours at the OPS will increase to 24/7 likely in the next week or two. 

Another 75 people are going through Safe Harbour’s medical detox program each month.