New Westminster’s groundbreaking Crises Response Pilot Project (“CRPP”) is being extended after receiving $1.46 Million in support from Health Canada’s Emergency Treatment Fund (“ETF”). New Westminster was the only successful BC applicant in the 2024 ETF program, and received the second-largest grant of any Municipality in Canada. With the approval of City Council on Monday, this funding support will allow the Pilot to operate at least to the end of 2026.

New Westminster’s groundbreaking Crises Response Pilot Project (“CRPP”) is being extended after receiving $1.46 Million in support from Health Canada’s Emergency Treatment Fund (“ETF”). New Westminster was the only successful BC applicant in the 2024 ETF program, and received the second-largest grant of any Municipality in Canada. With the approval of City Council on Monday, this funding support will allow the Pilot to operate at least to the end of 2026.

As a part of Monday’s Council update on the CRPP program, data was provided on the initial metrics for the program, including more than 500 client interactions and more than 1,400 referrals made to support services, along with hundreds of contacts made every month with residents and businesses regarding maintenance, cleanliness and safety issues, directing more rapid response by operations crews.

“Sometimes in reading these reports we might forget this is about real people, and it is real people doing this critical work,” said Community First Councillor Ruby Campbell, before relating a story from the report about the Outreach Team securing a place in detox and treatment for a resident in town, even arranging     transport to assure that resident got to the care they need. “This could be someone’s son, brother, or spouse. A real person saved by this work”.

The Crises Response Pilot Project includes three interdepartmental City teams: an Operations Support Team to address community concerns regarding cleanliness and safety, an Outreach Team to connect community members in need to housing or healthcare services, and a Policy and Advocacy Team to continue to press senior governments for supports needed to keep everyone in the community safe and supported. The addition of Community Liaison Officers and a 24/7 One Number to Call: Community Support Line are allowing the City to be more responsive to community needs, and are already making a difference on the ground.

The report to Council detailed work being done by the three teams, and included examples such as a couple who had been seeking shelter in pubic washrooms in a City park being connected with transitional and supportive housing, and now being secure in that housing. It also detailed the various ways the Community Liaison Officers addressed local business concerns and ongoing efforts to advocate to senior governments for increased housing and health care supports.

The dismissal of these reports as “anecdotal” and lacking “outcomes” by CRPP opponent and NWP Councillor Daniel Fontaine was countered by the Mayor.

“This report is full of outcomes”, said Mayor Johnstone. “Some people may look at this report and see anecdotes, I look at the report and see people. I see residents of my community who are being helped by their community. It is fundamentally our job to help residents and business get connected with supports they need.”

The 24/7 One Number to Call: Community Support Line (604-527-4502) eliminates the guesswork for businesses and residents in the community who would like to report concerns related to the three crises, but are unsure of where to start. The line is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week and allows rapid dispatch of services to better serve the entire community.

Council further directed staff to apply to the Emergency Treatment Fund for two additional years, in hopes that the CRPP can lead to a longer-term set of program supports that connect community members to the housing and healthcare they need, while creating a community where everyone feels safe.

Once again Community First members of Council demonstrated their commitment to evidence-based policies that protect lives, reduce harm, and build a healthier, more inclusive community for all.