Timmins street outreach program has funding extended

At a time of growing community concerns about homelessness and public drug use, the City of Timmins has voted to extend the Mushkegowuk Council's Fire Keeper Patrol team until the end of next year.

The vote happened a day before a public rally about the social problems in the community, although discussions about the extension had been taking place for months prior.

The outreach team of trained mental health, addictions and social service workers partnered with the city and Cochrane District Social Services Administration Board (CDSSAB) in 2023 for a one-year pilot program. Under that partnership, the Fire Keepers patrolled Timmins streets every day from 4 p.m. to midnight, offering outreach care to the city's unhoused and at-risk population, both Indigenous and non-Indigenous.

That program will now run until December 2025, with the daily patrol extended another eight hours so that outreach work begins at 8 a.m.

The new contract begins Aug. 31.

Meagan Baranyk, community programs manager with the city, told CBC Radio the pilot was a success, and Timmins is trying to take a different approach to homelessness and addictions.

"A lot of municipalities are going towards traditional security," she said. "We don't want to focus on enforcement. We really want to move from that mindset and focus on providing supports."

Over the past 10 months, Baranyk said outreach workers have been able build relationships with people experiencing homelessness and addiction, but also with businesses and the broader community. 

Under the program, the Fire Keeper Patrol team gives a monthly report to the city, which includes statistics about their work.

From Aug. 31 to May 31, outreach workers with the pilot program had 13,356 interactions with the public, administering basic medical attention 45 times and providing about 1,200 health-care referrals. The team also collected over 3,500 needles and distributed nearly 800 naloxone kits.

In the first year, outreach workers have focused on the city's downtown area, according to the monthly reports. However, Fire Keeper outreach workers patrol the whole city, and can be reached by phone by anyone needing help.

"They have that presence, and they definitely have that community support and connection," Baranyk said. "Without them, we wouldn't have an inclusive environment, but we also wouldn't be as safe as we are either." 

Baranyk said that if the city renews the program again after 2025, making the service 24 hours should be considered.. Monthly reports, which are passed on to council, will help show what's needed, she said.

The city has been facing more pressure to deal with homelessness and public drug use lately. Last week, dozens of people gathered in Hollinger Park to demand council take action.

Cochrane District's by-name list, which counts the number of people experiencing homelessness, currently has more than 350 people on it.

Baranyk said the city is hearing concerns and is working to improve communication with the public about its approach to homelessness, addictions and safety. The Fire Keepers patrol, she said, is one way the city is putting a human face on that response and engaging with people in the community. 

"I think we can build back their trust," she said. "It takes time for it to build trust, and I'd like to see that the whole community is aware of Mushkegowuk Fire Keepers."

The city will spend $180,000 to extend the program, while the CDSSAB is contributing $135,000. 

Spokesperson Cameron Grant said in an email that CDSSAB is pleased the patrols will continue past August.

"This initiative is vital for delivering sustained support to our community's homeless population, fostering invaluable cultural connections, and offering essential touch points for those experiencing homelessness," he said.

The CBC also reached out to Mushkegowuk Council for comment, but did not hear back before publication.