Emergency shelter, addictions services to stay downtown Sudbury

Sudbury city council has agreed to give the local Canadian Mental Health Association the deed to their current location —  as long as they strike a partnership deal.

Last night, the organization asked city council to give them ownership of 200 Larch Street, which for the past year but has housed the managed alcohol program for addicts.

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A permanent location would mean the programs could grow, and the CMHA could apply for more funding.

It took almost a full year, but the program has gained the trust of city council.

Coun. Fern Cormier said when he first heard of the program, he may have had mixed feelings.

"Taxpayer money that goes to something that involves serving alcohol as a medication?," Cormier said. "But the statistics and the science back it up."

Despite the program's success, several councillors didn't want to just hand the building over.

Coun. Robert Kirwan suggested a partnership.

"As a council, we are responsible for the people living in this city—  not the CMHA," Kirwan said.

"I think we'd be able to support what they're doing in a better way by being a partner, because there's a whole bottom floor there that could be put to use, providing for the needs of some of the most vulnerable people in our community."

It's not the first time the city debated the issue. In 2016, council considered the idea of selling 200 Larch Street.

In the end, last night council voted to give the building to the CMHA, but added conditions—  such as ensuring the building is returned to the city should the programs shut down.