Downtown crew keeping streets clean

Sep 2, 2020 | 10:57 AM

The Folks on Spokes (FOS) program in Vernon has been busy since restarting over the summer.

The project uses people with lived experience of substance use to help clean up the downtown area, with funding from the City of Vernon and provincial grants.

Vernon Community Safety Coordinator Rachael Zubick said since starting again five weeks ago, the ‘Clean Crew’ has removed 72 bags of garbage from downtown and properly disposed of 52 needles.

Peer teams hit the streets using a janitor’s cart and a list of known hot spots. They sweep the area twice a day during a two-hour shift. Hot spots are cleaned early in the morning to support businesses before (or as) they are opening, and in the mid-afternoon. Emerging areas of concern are added to the list as they surface.

FOS is coordinated through the City of Vernon Community Safety Office in partnership with Partner’s in Action Sharps Action Team.

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To report an improperly discarded needle or an emerging hot-spot in the downtown, call 250-550-7841 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday to Friday. After hours, call Vernon Bylaw Compliance at 250-550-3505.

A grant from the Community Action Initiative (CAI), along with support from the Ministry of Mental Health and Addictions, and the Overdose Emergency Response Centre allowed the program to restart.

The funding, provided through the Community Wellness and Harm Reduction Grant Program, was originally targeted to hire a FOS program coordinator, but plans had to be revised when the COVID-19 pandemic began.

“The Folks on Spokes program was incredibly successful last year, so we were looking forward to taking the next step of hiring a coordinator,” said Zubick.“Thankfully, the CAI generously redirected the funds to allow for the project to run with a few administrative and program adjustments instead.”

FOS engages peers – people with lived experience of substance use – in the community, and helps builds a sense of belonging and pride. It develops relationships between peers, businesses and the broader community while also providing pre-employment opportunities and the prospect for a reference. The FOS program helps build skills and confidence for peers who are taking part in the program.

by Pete McIntyre

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