Homelessness, addiction in Wetaskiwin exposed in online video
Scott Stevenson | CBC News | Posted: September 18, 2015 12:42 PM | Last Updated: September 18, 2015
RCMP and experts say there are no easy solutions
A video posted to the Wetaskiwin Rant and Rave Facebook site is raising questions about whether the central Alberta city has adequate social services to deal with addiction and homelessness.
The video, which has generated more than 400 comments, shows three men sleeping in the small lobby entrance of the Sherwood Manor apartment building.
A woman can be heard saying that kind of thing happens every day.
The apartment's resident manager Barbara Frostad confirms there have been ongoing problems on the property for the 20 years she's been there.
"I've gone out there and they're cooking cocaine on a Bunsen burner under our trees," she said. "And they just pee wherever they want, they poop wherever they want."
Frostad said there's nothing she can do about them sleeping in the lobby entrance because it has to be left unlocked so the fire department has access.
She said they've put in fencing and cut back trees to deter the behaviour. Nonetheless it persists, not only on the apartment's property but all across the city, she added.
The video, which has generated more than 400 comments, shows three men sleeping in the small lobby entrance of the Sherwood Manor apartment building.
A woman can be heard saying that kind of thing happens every day.
The apartment's resident manager Barbara Frostad confirms there have been ongoing problems on the property for the 20 years she's been there.
"I've gone out there and they're cooking cocaine on a Bunsen burner under our trees," she said. "And they just pee wherever they want, they poop wherever they want."
Frostad said there's nothing she can do about them sleeping in the lobby entrance because it has to be left unlocked so the fire department has access.
She said they've put in fencing and cut back trees to deter the behaviour. Nonetheless it persists, not only on the apartment's property but all across the city, she added.
"Anybody who has lived in Wetaskiwin, I guess you become immune to some of it."
Wetaskiwin RCMP agree it is a city-wide problem.
Small homeless population has severe addictions
Insp. Fran Bethell said there is a small homeless population with severe addictions and other social issues.
She said they've tried a number of different strategies over the years but none have been particularly successful.
That included attempts to put some through the justice system.
She said they've tried a number of different strategies over the years but none have been particularly successful.
That included attempts to put some through the justice system.
"The court's view is that this is a social problem and not a criminal justice issue," said Bethell, adding that in an ideal world there would be better resources available.
"We don't have a shelter here, we don't have a sobering centre, we don't have some other resources that some communities in the province might have access to to help deal with the severe intoxication, but also help coach and mentor these people," she said. "We do the best we can with the resources we have."
Those who study and administer social services aren't sure if more resources will help. Deborah Teed, the executive director for Family and Community Support Services Association of Alberta, said it's difficult to help the individuals.
"Either they realize they have an addiction and they don't want to get help or maybe they have a mental illness and they don't realize that they need help."
Teed says the FCSSAA is now focusing on early intervention to prevent people from becoming addicted or homeless in the first place.
Meanwhile, the RCMP, city officials and social agencies have formed a committee to tackle an issue that they say isn't exclusive to Wetaskiwin.
They say it's a problem in small cities and towns all across Alberta.
Scott.Stevenson@cbc.ca
@SStevensonCBC
Scott.Stevenson@cbc.ca
@SStevensonCBC