Downtown community cleanliness, safety, and health in Prince George will benefit after nearly $2 Million in Provincial and Federal Government funding was announced today for the City of Prince George’s Community Safety Hub.
The Community Safety Hub, which opened on April 6 on 2nd Avenue and George Street, serves as a critical connection point for many of the core agencies across governments and non-profit sectors that regularly contend with some of society’s most complex issues. The establishment of the Hub was one of the key commitments approved by Council that are contained in a report from the Select Committee on a Safe, Clean, and Inclusive Community.
The $1.907,593.00 in funding, which is allocated via the Union of BC Municipalities’ Strengthening Communities Services Grant Program, will be used by the City of Prince George in several important ways:
- Further establishment of the Community Safety Hub (site renovations, staffing, janitorial services, and utilities)
- Increased RCMP patrols
- Security (civic facilities and parkades)
- Establishment of a Mini Transfer Station (to assist Parks and Bylaw staff to deposit and sort daily cleanups)
- Enhanced cleaning
- Service/Drop In Centre for unsheltered homeless population and comprehensive evaluation
As the City continues to implement the activities associated with this funding, the Community Safety Hub will continue to operate as a centre for downtown health and safety service coordination.
The partner organizations involved with the Community Safety Hub include:
- City of Prince George (Bylaw Services)
- Northern Health
- BC Housing
- RCMP including the Downtown Safety Unit
- Prince George Native Friendship Centre
- Downtown Prince George
- Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction
These organizations have come together to address a number of issues, including the health and safety of the residents of downtown encampments and enhanced cleaning protocols in the downtown area. A number of unsheltered homeless individuals have been connected with income assistance, services, and housing.
Further information about health, safety, and cleanliness initiatives implemented by the City of Prince George in the downtown area is available on the City website.
Visit the Province of BC media release.
Background
Like every community, Prince George is managing complex social issues associated with two concurrent health emergencies: the ongoing opioid overdose crisis, and the COVID-19 pandemic. The response has involved multiple government ministries, Northern Health, the RCMP, the business sector, and numerous community-based organizations all working to improve the health and safety of the unsheltered homeless while addressing related community impacts.
To address persistent and multi-faceted social issues like homelessness, substance use, and mental illness, responding agencies must connect and communicate to ensure their activities are coordinated. With this goal in mind, the City of Prince George, in collaboration with its partners, launched the Community Safety Hub to enhance and support multi-jurisdictional service coordination.
While the uses for the Hub are still evolving, the location provides flexible work and meeting space for City Bylaw Services, Northern Health, BC Housing, RCMP including the Downtown Safety Unit, the Prince George Native Friendship Centre, Downtown Prince George, the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, and more.
Notably, the Hub is not a “public facing” office and members of the public should contact participating agencies directly through their established communication channels (e.g. dialing 9-1-1 during an emergency or 3-1-1 to reach the City’s Service Centre) to report a problem or request further information.