DVA says VJH is best site for overdose prevention facility

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“The hospital is located within a 10-minute walk of the edge of Vernon’s secondary BIA, where current emergency shelter services currently exist.”

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The business group says if the OPS is located downtown, there should be process in place for regular feedback.

“There (needs to be) a consistent and regular feedback mechanism in place for neighboring businesses and properties to communicate with the service provider.”

Other key points made by the DVA include that the service provider be held to a 3-6 month contract performance review to assure the community that the site is being operated in accordance with the original proposed operational standards, and that if additional security measures are required for the safety and security of the surrounding businesses or public spaces, that appropriate measures are immediately taken and that the cost of these measures be that of either Interior Health or the service provider.

“While the limited studies have not shown an increase in crime statistics (as noted at the May 13th meeting), we do anticipate that there will be an increase in street level disorder around a drug-use facility,” adds Lehman in the release.

“An increase in street level disorder is quite simply an unacceptable demand to be placed on a business community, at this time, when most businesses and property owners are already doing their utmost best to co-exist within the social constructs that make up a downtown business community.”

Interior Health is continuing to gather input before it decides on a location.